Orette Joins NDC, Decries Undemocratic Practices in APC
By Henry Ovie
A Texas-based Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Austin Orette, has officially joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing undemocratic practices in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.
Founding Members Marginalized in APC
Orette, a founding member of APC and Delta South senatorial aspirant, told reporters in Lagos on Tuesday that the party sidelined its founding members in the state.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) wants the incumbent to hold the position without primary elections. In this wise, I can say I did not leave the ruling party. It was APC that left me,”
He added, “Defectors made the environment unbearable for APC founding members in Delta State. I love President Bola Tinubu. I wish him well.”
Senate Aspirations and Vision for Delta South
The medical practitioner described the 2027 elections as a “battle of ideas,” urging Nigerians to elect the brightest minds into the Senate.
“The Senate is the engine house of democracy. It is a place for the debate of ideas. In Nigeria, people who are not intellectually sound are allocated tickets in National Assembly elections,”
he said.
Orette narrated a tragic case from his hometown where a shortage of medical personnel led to the death of a woman, emphasizing the need for responsive leadership.
He pledged to transform Delta South by creating jobs, attracting foreign investments, retraining artisans, improving healthcare and agriculture, and revitalizing Ogbe-Ijoh Market.
“I believe I can serve my people. I have been in this journey for long. I will make the people rich. I will attract foreign investments and train citizens to be of service to others. I will open offices in all towns and villages in Delta South,”
Orette said.
Advocacy for Democratic Reforms
The NDC senatorial aspirant criticized the “no-go-areas” in the 1999 Constitution and called for decentralization of power from the federal government to the local level.
“Uniformity does not build a country. We must build a community of love. There must be a standard of how we treat our neighbours,”
he stated.
He reflected on Nigeria’s trajectory under military rule, attributing the country’s institutional decay to prolonged military incursions, subversion of internal democracy, centralization of power, and abuse of office by political actors.
“The military brought Nigeria to this state. The military destroyed all our institutions. Today, political actors exhibit behaviors akin to military rule. We need to demilitarize the brain of political leaders,”
Orette warned.
Youth Empowerment and Security Proposals
He also proposed a reserve army and a six-month voluntary military training for youths to prepare them for national emergencies, wars, or disasters. He suggested reforms to make NYSC voluntary rather than mandatory.
Concerns Over Authoritarian Trends
Orette highlighted the rise in authoritarian tendencies, executive arrogance, legislative incompetence, declining democratic principles, and citizen apathy, urging structural reforms and civic engagement to restore accountability.
