Labour Party governorship candidate for Delta State, Dr Barry Avotu Johnson, speaks during an exclusive interview with Democracy Radio on his plans for governance ahead of the 2027 election.
Labour Party governorship candidate for Delta State, Dr Barry Johnson, says education, healthcare, infrastructure and security would be the immediate priorities of his administration if elected in 2027.
In this exclusive interview with Democracy Radio, he outlines his governance agenda and discusses plans for women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Q: You recently emerged as the Labour Party’s governorship candidate for Delta State. Beyond campaign promises, what measurable policy should people use to assess your performance within your first year in office if elected?
Barry Johnson: My first priority will be to improve the quality of basic public services.
Education comes first. Every child in Delta State should have access to free, quality and compulsory education from nursery school to the first university degree. That means investing in modern schools, qualified teachers, learning materials and a better learning environment.
Healthcare is another priority. I want to strengthen public hospitals and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly for people who cannot afford treatment.
My administration will also provide clean water, improve roads and strengthen security because these are essential services every government should deliver.
Delta State receives substantial allocations from the Federation Account, and I believe those resources should be managed transparently and translated into visible improvements in the lives of the people.
Q: Do you have specific plans for women, young people and persons with disabilities?
Barry Johnson: Yes.
We intend to create employment and empowerment opportunities for women and young people through programmes that promote skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and economic participation.
We also plan to strengthen welfare support for older persons and persons with disabilities through targeted social intervention programmes designed to improve their quality of life.
In addition, we hope to establish care facilities for vulnerable children across the state and expand programmes that provide support for disadvantaged families.
For me, governance is about improving people’s lives. Every policy should deliver practical benefits and ensure that development reaches communities across Delta State.
Q: Since the 2023 general election, the Labour Party has faced internal leadership disputes and prolonged court cases. Why should Nigerians trust a party that has struggled to resolve its own internal challenges?
Barry Johnson: The Labour Party is facing internal challenges, and I believe those issues need to be resolved for the party to move forward.
Like many political parties, internal disagreements can affect public confidence. My hope is that the party’s leaders will find a lasting solution that strengthens the organisation ahead of future elections.
I have expressed my personal views on recent developments within the party and the role of some political actors. Those views reflect my own assessment of events, and I believe party members should work together to strengthen the party.
Q: In a previous television interview, you said the Labour Party was “unbeatable” in the Federal Capital Territory. What evidence supports that claim?
Barry Johnson: My position is based on what we witnessed during the 2023 general election.
The Obedient Movement worked closely with the Labour Party in the Federal Capital Territory, and I believe that support contributed significantly to the party’s performance.
Looking ahead to 2027, I believe the movement will continue to influence electoral outcomes wherever it decides to support candidates. We have not announced any endorsement, but we remain an organised movement with structures across the country.
Dr Barry Avotu Johnson, also spoke on the proposed Obedient People’s Party (OPP), saying it should be registered to widen political participation in Nigeria.
He spoke on the transition from the Nigeria Youths Democratic Party (NYDP), the challenges facing emerging political parties and why he believes electoral reforms are needed.
Q: Between 2021 and 2023, you repeatedly urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to register the Nigeria Youths Democratic Party (NYDP), insisting it had met the constitutional requirements. Looking back, why do you think that effort failed, and what does it reveal about the challenges facing new political parties in Nigeria?
Barry Johnson: The NYDP is now history. We have moved on to what we call the Obedient People’s Party (OPP), which we believe reflects our vision for national development and unity.
We applied to INEC for registration, but the application has not been approved. We have continued to engage the commission and hope the process will be concluded in line with the law.
For now, we do not want to distract from the ongoing electoral process. However, if our application remains unresolved afterwards, we will consider legal action because we believe every association that satisfies the legal requirements should have the opportunity to participate in Nigeria’s democracy.
We have built structures across the country’s 774 local government areas, wards and polling units. In our view, those structures demonstrate our readiness to operate as a political party, and we believe our application deserves fair consideration.
Q: Some observers argue that smaller political parties face significant challenges in gaining recognition and appearing on the ballot. What changes do you think are needed?
Barry Johnson: Nigeria operates a multi-party democracy, and I believe every political association that satisfies the legal requirements should be allowed to register.
Some parties have a national outlook, while others represent particular regions or communities. In my view, they all contribute to democratic participation by giving citizens more political choices.
The registration process should be transparent, fair and consistent. Expanding political participation will strengthen democracy and encourage more Nigerians to engage in governance.
Q: INEC says political associations must satisfy certain conditions before they can be registered. Are you confident your proposed party has met those conditions?
Barry Johnson: Yes.
We have a national executive council, a national working committee and an office in Abuja. We also have coordinators across local government areas, wards and polling units nationwide.
We believe we have satisfied the necessary requirements and hope INEC will assess our application fairly and in accordance with the law.
Q: If the proposed party is eventually not registered, would you consider joining another political party?
Barry Johnson: At the moment, our priority remains the registration of the Obedient People’s Party.
We believe the platform reflects our policy priorities, including free and compulsory education from nursery school to the first university degree, improved healthcare and broader social welfare.
Our objective is to provide Nigerians with another political platform through which they can participate in elections and pursue those ideas.
About The Author
