The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the 2027 general election, Engr. Sunday Andrew Opoke, has decried insecurity, institutional decay and the worsening socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria, calling for a new leadership direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Opoke made the position known on Thursday, October 1, 2026, while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
He said the anniversary provided an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the aspirations of the country’s founding fathers and assess the extent to which successive governments had fulfilled those aspirations.
According to him, Nigeria’s fundamental challenge remains leadership, arguing that the country possesses the human and natural resources required to attain sustainable development but has struggled to translate those advantages into improved living conditions for citizens.
“Nigerians are doing well, but Nigeria is not doing well. Take it from me. I say Nigerians are doing well internationally, but Nigeria is not doing well as a country,” Opoke said.
He attributed the situation largely to what he described as leadership failure, saying the country had witnessed a deterioration in security, national cohesion and the strength of its institutions.
The PDP candidate expressed concern over the resurgence of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, saying farmers, travellers and business owners were increasingly operating under fear.
“At 66, we cannot say we are still young. Somebody who is 66 years is not a small person. He is already an old person,” he said, insisting that Nigeria required “a new direction, new leadership, and new perception of leadership."
Opoke also lamented the widening ethnic, religious and tribal divisions in the country, recalling a period when Nigerians from different parts of the country could freely live and conduct businesses across regional boundaries.
He said the erosion of national cohesion had compounded the country’s security and governance challenges.
The senatorial candidate said the 2027 general election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to scrutinise political candidates and make choices based on their capacity to provide effective governance.
“Vote for the right candidates. Vote for the right person. It may not necessarily be party, but who can deliver quality, good governance,” he said.
He urged voters to recognise their constitutional power to determine who governs them, saying: “We have the power to hire and to fire. We can fire the bad ones and hire good ones.”
Turning to Ebonyi State, which marked 30 years of creation in 2026, Opoke said the state had enormous economic potential that remained largely untapped.
He identified Ebonyi’s strategic location, mineral resources and human capital as major assets capable of driving industrialisation and economic growth if effectively harnessed.
He particularly cited the state’s lead and zinc deposits, arguing that their proper exploitation could support industries and create employment opportunities.
“Ebonyi State should be one of the richest states not only in the South-East, but even in the country,” he said.
Opoke, however, expressed concern over the state of public education, healthcare, infrastructure and access to potable water, saying citizens deserved functional social amenities and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“Our health system needs to improve. Our education system needs to improve. Our infrastructures need to improve,” he said.
While acknowledging that governments had made efforts in different sectors, he maintained that more needed to be done to address the structural challenges confronting the state and the country.
Opoke said the country’s 66th Independence anniversary should be a period of sober reflection rather than celebration alone, arguing that the prevailing challenges demanded collective action and institutional reforms.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria could still overcome its difficulties, saying the country retained the human and material resources necessary to achieve meaningful development.
The PDP candidate consequently urged Nigerians to approach the 2027 elections with renewed vigilance, stressing the need to assess candidates beyond political party affiliation and focus on their capacity to deliver accountable and effective governance.
He said a change in leadership direction was necessary “for the sake of our unborn children and for the sake of the nation that is to come.”
