Labour Party candidate for the Owerri Federal Constituency, Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has officially presented her Certificate of Return, confirming her emergence as the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2027 general election.
Popularly known as Ada Owerri, the former First Lady of Ondo State made the presentation during a press briefing in Owerri on Wednesday, where she also addressed growing questions surrounding her decision to step down from the senatorial race and contest for the House of Representatives instead.
A public health expert, gender advocate and founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), Anyanwu-Akeredolu has built a reputation around women’s empowerment, healthcare advocacy and youth development. During her years as First Lady of Ondo State, she championed several initiatives focused on girl-child education, technology training and economic inclusion.
Speaking to journalists, she described her transition from a senatorial aspirant to a House of Representatives candidate as a difficult but necessary decision taken in the interest of party unity. She explained that Labour Party’s success was bigger than any individual ambition and insisted that teamwork and loyalty to the party guided her choice.
The Labour Party candidate said her mission remains unchanged regardless of the office she seeks. According to her, the ultimate goal is to deliver quality representation, promote good governance and champion legislation that directly impacts the lives of people in Owerri Federal Constituency and Imo State at large.
As part of her campaign launch, Anyanwu-Akeredolu unveiled a comprehensive 10-point manifesto built around youth empowerment, education, healthcare, women’s inclusion, infrastructure development, social welfare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, security and effective legislative representation.
She pledged to create opportunities for young people through digital skills development, ICT training, solar technology programmes and entrepreneurship support. Drawing from her previous initiatives, she highlighted her experience training thousands of young girls in technology and providing tools such as laptops and solar systems to support learning.
On healthcare, the former First Lady promised to advocate for stronger primary healthcare systems, reduced maternal mortality, expanded access to medical services and the introduction of telemedicine solutions to bridge the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural communities. She also stressed the need for greater support for widows, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Addressing infrastructure and security concerns, Anyanwu-Akeredolu called for stronger collaboration between federal lawmakers, state officials and local government authorities to accelerate development projects across communities. She argued that meaningful progress can only be achieved through cooperation rather than political rivalry.
The Labour Party candidate concluded by urging residents of Owerri Federal Constituency to embrace issue-based politics and support leaders capable of delivering tangible results. She expressed confidence that with the backing of voters, her vision for inclusive development and effective representation can become a reality.
