BY AUSTEN ADESORO PhD
Etsako stands at a crossroads as 2027 approaches. The choice before the people is simple: reward proven competence, verifiable performance, and integrity, or fall for manufactured noise, recycled desperation, and a pattern of dishonesty dressed as ambition.
- Track Record vs. Propaganda
Hon. Ogumah
His service in Etsako is built on projects people can point to — roads they drive on, schools their children attend, and representation that actually shows up in Abuja and returns home with results. When you walk through the wards, the evidence speaks for itself. The pattern is clear: delivery first, communication second.
Hon. Deker
His campaign has become defined by claims without proof. The latest is the claim of an endorsement from the Governor. No official statement, no ceremony, no documentation. Just rumors pushed to distract from a record that cannot stand on its own. This reliance on perception over proof undermines trust before any vote is cast.
- Competence Cannot Be Manufactured, and Integrity Cannot Be Faked
Leadership is about who delivers when given the mandate, and who tells the truth when seeking it. Hon. Ogumah has shown consistent engagement with constituents and the ability to attract development without making it a media circus.
Desperation makes people invent credentials. Inaudinate ambition makes them believe the seat belongs to them by entitlement. But more dangerous than both is a lack of honesty and a disregard for democratic process.
As Hon. Ogumah put it:
“A leader who lies to get to the people cannot be trusted to stay truthful with the people. Integrity is not a campaign slogan, it is the foundation of representation.”
If a candidate will mislead you to get your vote, what will they mislead you about once they have your mandate? Etsako cannot afford to build its future on a foundation of lies.
- Upholding Party Discipline: Governor Okpebholo and APC National Chairman Yilwatda Stand for Free, Fair, Transparent Primaries
The APC has made its position clear. Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has repeatedly emphasized that governance under his watch is driven by practical action, not promises. That same principle extends to internal party democracy. The governor has aligned with the party’s push for open, credible processes that respect the will of the people.
This position is in line with APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, who has warned aspirants that the forthcoming primaries must be conducted peacefully and transparently.
Professor Yilwatda stated:
“The leadership of the party will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the smooth conduct of the primaries… any aspirant or supporter found instigating violence, sponsoring unrest, engaging in anti-party activities, or attempting to undermine the integrity of the process will face severe disciplinary measures, including immediate suspension from the party.”
He has consistently called for maturity, patriotism, and good sportsmanship, urging aspirants to embrace the outcome of primaries in the overall interest of the party and democracy.
Hon. Deker’s approach stands in direct contrast. His unsubstantiated insinuation of a gubernatorial endorsement and desperation for blind adoption undermine the democratic process Governor Okpebholo and Chairman Yilwatda are working to protect. Such tactics promote imposition over participation, and exclusion over the transparent, free, and fair contest the APC leadership demands.
- Vision, Consistency, and Why Hon. Ogumah for 2027
Approach to Engagement
- Ogumah: Present before, during, and after elections. Projects and interventions address real needs across Etsako East, Central, and West.
- Deker: Focused on positioning and association. Vision communicated so far leans on aspiration rather than a documented plan with milestones tied to Etsako’s specific needs.
Communication and Integrity
- Ogumah: Lets projects and constituent testimony do the talking. Trust is maintained by aligning words with verifiable action.
- Deker: Unverified claims of endorsement create a trust issue. For voters, this becomes a test of individual integrity.
Forward Plan
- Ogumah: Consolidate existing gains and expand opportunities for youth, women, and farmers. It’s a continuation of a known track record.
- Deker: Pitches change through association and new energy, but without verifiable performance, it’s harder for voters to measure what that change will actually deliver.
Why Hon. Ogumah for 2027
- Consistency: Present and accessible to the people year-round.
- Performance: Infrastructure and social interventions that meet day-to-day needs.
- Integrity & Honesty: Campaigns on his record, not on borrowed authority or false narratives.
- Vision: Clear plan to scale gains and broaden opportunities across the constituency.
- Respect for Process: Aligns with Governor Monday Okpebholo and Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda’s call for free, fair, and transparent primaries.
2027 is not about who circulates the most convincing rumor or who shouts loudest for blind adoption. It is about who has earned the right to speak for Etsako with authority, results, and a track record of telling the truth.
The people of Etsako have seen what happens when desperation, unchecked ambition, and dishonesty masquerade as leadership. This time, they will choose competence, performance, and integrity over noise.
Hon. Ogumah represents that choice.
Austen is a journalist,author, legislative expert of about three decades in the Nigerian Parliament.