The Labour Party presidential candidate, Sunday Chibuzo Okereke, has proposed the adoption of zero-based budgeting, an institutional reset and a shift from palliative and distributive economy to a productive economy as part of his agenda for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Okereke spoke during a solidarity roadshow in Arochukwu Kingdom, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, where he rallied support for the Labour Party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

At the Arochukwu rally, Okereke also mobilised support for Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other Labour Party candidates contesting legislative positions.

He specifically endorsed the party’s Abia North Senatorial candidate, Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex; its candidate for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa; and its candidate for Arochukwu State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Okoro.

Speaking on the sidelines of the rally, Okereke said the gathering was primarily organised to appreciate Otti for what he described as the governor’s development efforts in Abia.

He said the changes taking place in the state under Otti had attracted attention beyond Abia, adding that the governor’s administration provided an opportunity to demonstrate a different approach to governance.

Okereke commended Otti for what he described as his role in strengthening the Labour Party and supporting the emergence of a younger generation of leaders within the party.

He said his proposed governance framework would be anchored on what he called the Nigerians First Vision, with emphasis on institutional reform, fiscal discipline, inclusion and a more productive economy.

According to him, Nigeria needs to review its approach to public budgeting by introducing zero-based budgeting, under which government spending would be justified from the beginning of each budget cycle rather than relying primarily on previous allocations.

He advocated a stronger federal system and called for the effective functioning of local governments, saying governance at the grassroots must be strengthened to deliver meaningful development to citizens.

Okereke said his proposed institutional reset would also focus on youth and women development through greater inclusion and participatory governance.

He further proposed expanding the interpretation of federal character beyond ethnicity to reflect Nigeria’s broader diversity.

According to him, young people, women and persons with disabilities should also be considered in efforts to ensure broader representation in governance.

The Labour presidential candidate said his overall objective was to move Nigeria away from what he described as a “palliative and distributive economy” towards a productive economy capable of creating sustainable opportunities for citizens.

He said government should focus less on distributing relief and more on creating the conditions for Nigerians to produce, earn and contribute to economic growth.

Okereke said his interest in the presidency was driven by years of studying systems, institutional design and governance architecture.

“I have spent years studying systems and designing systems and governance architecture, supporting institutional design and framework,” he said.

He argued that democracy should ultimately translate into improved living conditions for citizens.

“Democracy must deliver happiness to the Nigerian people. Democracy must improve the lives of people,” Okereke said.

He urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 electoral process and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards where necessary, stressing that decisions taken by elected representatives at the federal, state and local government levels directly affect citizens.

He urged Labour supporters to vote across the ballot, arguing that coordinated representation at the federal and state levels would help sustain the development agenda of the Otti administration.

The traditional ruler of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Eminence, Dr. Eberechukwu Oji, Eze Aro IX, prayed for Okereke and wished him well in his campaign.