Performance Over Promises: Why Ethiope Is Standing Firm with Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu

By GABRIEL CHOBA

In an era where Nigerian politics is too often synonymous with broken promises and self-serving agendas, a powerful exception is emerging from Delta State. Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the Member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is not merely holding a seat; she is redefining what effective, people-first representation looks like.

Her story is one of tangible impact, resilient leadership, and a clear vision that has reignited hope in a constituency hungry for genuine development. As the political drumbeats for 2027 begin to sound, the most compelling arguement is not for change, but for consolidation and continuity under her proven stewardship.

Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s tenure stands as a masterclass in purposeful governance. While many legislators hide behind motions and empty press releases, she has anchored her work in visible, life-changing projects. Chairing the critical House Committee on NDDC oversight, she wields influence not for prestige, but as a tool for accountability and regional development.

Her impact is felt directly in the health and wellbeing of her people. Through the “Starlite Hopes Initiative” and strategic partnerships, she has taken healthcare to the doorsteps of communities in Eku, Abraka, Isiokolo, and Oghara. These are not photo-op events, but sustained interventions offering free medical consultations, treatments, and surgeries, addressing a fundamental need often neglected by the state.

Furthermore, her legislative foresight is aimed at securing Ethiope’s future. Bills for the establishment of a Customs Training College and a Federal Paramedics College in Delta State are visionary. They look beyond temporary empowerment to creating institutional frameworks for lasting youth employment, skills acquisition, and economic stimulation.

This, combined with her large-scale empowerment programmes and tangible improvements in educational infrastructure, roads, and public lighting, paints a picture of a representative who understands that development must be holistic.

True leadership is not tested in times of peace, but in moments of adversity. The violent incident of February 21, 2026, during the APC congress in Ethiope West, was a stark reminder of the toxic undercurrents that still plague our politics. The deliberate relocation of the venue to Ovade, followed by attacks on her supporters by armed thugs, was a clear act of political intimidation designed to silence a rising force.

Yet, in the face of this, Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s resolve has not wavered. Her calm defiance and unwavering focus on her mission, even as she escaped unhurt, demonstrate a courage that transcends political brinkmanship.

These “vitriolic attacks and campaigns of calumny” have, paradoxically, strengthened her bond with the people, who see in her a leader willing to endure fire for their sake. She honors the political legacy of her father, Chief James Ibori, not by entitlement, but by forging her own path defined by integrity, service, and an unshakeable commitment to unity.

The growing, unified call across Ethiope East and Ethiope West for her re-election is the most powerful poll available. It is an organic, grassroots sentiment born from witnessed results. The people are not being persuaded; they are convinced. They have moved from hope to expectation, based on a proven track record.

The 2027 election, therefore, presents a critical choice. It is a referendum on performance versus empty promises; on development versus destabilization; on a beacon of hope versus a return to the shadows of political noise.

Re-electing, Hon. Ibori-Suenu is not a routine political decision, it is an investment in the continued trajectory of progress. It is a “testament to the people’s faith,” a collective decision to secure the future she has diligently begun to build.

Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu represents the kind of transformative leadership Nigeria desperately needs. She has shown that politics can be a noble vocation focused on service and concrete development.

For Ethiope Federal Constituency, the path forward is clear. To interrupt this journey of progress now would be a profound disservice to the people’s welfare and the constituency’s destiny.

We urge the people of Ethiope to stand firm, defend their gains, and overwhelmingly return this beacon of hope to the National Assembly in 2027. Her continuity is essential, not just for Ethiope federal constituency, but as a shining example for Nigerian democracy itself.