The Ndoshimili Development Union (NDU) has launched a strong advocacy campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling on political parties and aspiring candidates to address what it described as decades of neglect, marginalisation and underdevelopment in Ndoshimili communities of Delta State despite their enormous contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

In a statement issued on June 29, 2026, and signed by its President-General, Engr. Ike Onyenokwe, the union urged indigenes of Ndoshimili at home and in the diaspora to actively participate in the political process by demanding concrete development commitments from political aspirants.

The union lamented that Ndoshimili, located in Ndokwa East Local Government Area (NELGA), remains one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic regions, hosting major oil and gas facilities that produce over 100,000 barrels of crude oil daily, about 300 million cubic feet of gas per day, and an Independent Power Plant supplying electricity to no fewer than 16 states.

Despite these vast resources, the group said the area continues to suffer from poor infrastructure, lack of electricity, environmental degradation, unemployment and inadequate representation in critical government institutions.

“For too long, Ndoshimili has been a land that gives everything and receives almost nothing,” the statement declared, noting that successive democratic administrations since 1999 have failed to significantly improve the living conditions of the people.

The NDU called on residents to reject politics driven by inducements, sentiment and ethnic loyalty, insisting that candidates seeking votes must be subjected to rigorous scrutiny.

According to the union, aspirants must clearly state their plans regarding the long-abandoned Oko-Abala-Utchi-Aboh-Onyah-Patani Coastal Road project, which was approved as far back as 1978 but remains uncompleted.

The group also demanded explanations on how candidates intend to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the three per cent Host Community Development Fund established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), as well as measures to provide electricity to communities hosting power-generating facilities.

Other key demands include employment opportunities and contract allocations for local youths in oil and gas companies operating in the area, effective shoreline protection and flood control measures along the River Niger, and increased representation of Ndoshimili people in agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), and other federal and state institutions.

The union urged political parties to field candidates with proven integrity, competence and genuine commitment to public service, warning against the imposition of politicians with records of poor performance and self-enrichment.

“As you prepare your candidates and manifestos, know that Ndoshimili is no longer a passive constituency. We are an informed, organised and determined people,” the statement said.

The NDU further unveiled a five-point agenda for the campaign season, including voter education, engagement with candidates across party lines, publication of independent assessments of aspirants, resistance to vote-buying and electoral intimidation, and intensified advocacy for accountability in the utilisation of PIA funds and other developmental allocations.

Reaffirming the region’s strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy, the union stressed that the people deserve better infrastructure, quality education, healthcare facilities, employment opportunities and greater inclusion in decision-making processes affecting their land.

The organisation called on all Ndoshimili sons and daughters in communities such as Aboh, Abalagada, Okpai, Utchi, Onyah, Ase, Umuolu and Ashaka, as well as those residing in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and abroad, to unite in demanding responsible leadership and sustainable development.

“The Ndoshimili we deserve—united, prosperous and respected—will not be given to us. We must demand it, campaign for it and build it together,” the union declared, adding that the forthcoming election cycle presents a critical opportunity to redefine the political and developmental future of the oil-producing region.