The quest of Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs to become the next governor of Rivers State, took a definitive and decisive step towards actualization, when he was officially presented with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Certificate of Return, as the authentic Rivers State governorship candidate of the party for the 2027 general elections, in a colourful ceremony organised by the party to present certificates of return to its candidates across presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state elections, at the party’s newly commissioned Secretariat in Abuja, on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The event was part of activities which included the Commissioning of the brand new NDC national Secretariat, the 3rd National Executive Committee meeting of the party, the inauguration of the the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, as well as the presentation of certificates which were handed out by party leadership, to officially confirm candidates under the NDC platform for the 2027 general elections and to prevent individuals who did not win primaries from parading themselves as candidates.
Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs captured the historic and deeply significant political event on his verified social media handles thus:
Yesterday in Abuja, I experienced one of those moments that remind you why the journey matters, why the work must continue, and why the future we desire is worth every sacrifice it demands.
It was a day filled with colour, camaraderie, renewed conviction and a palpable sense of purpose. From the commissioning of the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s newly acquired National Secretariat to the inauguration of the National Campaign Council and the presentation of Certificates of Return to our candidates, the atmosphere was one of celebration, solidarity and determination.
For me, receiving my Certificate of Return was particularly profound. It was a moment of genuine joy, gratitude and reflection. Beyond the significance of the certificate itself lies the responsibility it represents: the opportunity to be part of a movement that seeks to redefine the possibilities of leadership and public service in Nigeria.
What we witnessed in Abuja was more than the gathering of party faithful. It was the steady emergence of a political movement building the structures, organisation and collective resolve required to participate meaningfully in the future of our country. To see a young party make such a statement of presence and purpose is a moment worth appreciating and celebrating.
As our National Chairman declared, “We are on a rescue mission.” Our Party Leader and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has equally emphasised the importance of issue-based campaigns, driven by ideas, policies and practical solutions rather than the familiar theatrics of Nigerian politics.
These are important declarations. But their real value will ultimately be measured by the work we do, the standards we uphold and the lives our leadership improves.
For me, the events in Abuja also carried a deeply personal significance. Rivers State was not left out. Dumo Lulu-Briggs was not left out. Rivers State is in the ballot, and so is the possibility of a different future for our people.
That is a reality worth celebrating, not merely because of what it means for a candidate or a political party, but because of what it represents for the people whose aspirations must remain at the centre of our politics.
As we return to Rivers State from Abuja, our responsibility is clear. We must translate the energy of this moment into a purposeful conversation about the kind of state we want to build and the leadership required to build it.
Rivers State needs leadership that understands the relationship between resources and responsibility, between economic potential and prosperity, and between political authority and the duty to serve. We need a governance culture that treats public resources as a trust, recognises the dignity of every citizen, creates room for enterprise, expands opportunity and builds institutions capable of delivering results beyond the lifespan of any administration.
The future of our state cannot be secured by slogans alone. It requires clear ideas, thoughtful policies, disciplined execution and the courage to confront the problems that have kept our people from fully enjoying the possibilities of their homeland.
It requires us to ask difficult questions about our economy, our infrastructure, our educational system, our environment, our healthcare, our young people and the opportunities available to the next generation. More importantly, it requires leadership willing to turn the answers into measurable action.
This is why the journey ahead must be bigger than any individual.
The victory we seek is not Dumo Lulu-Briggs’s victory alone. It must be a victory for the future of Rivers State.
It must be a victory for the children who deserve an education that prepares them for life, for the young people who should not have to abandon their dreams because opportunity is scarce, for the entrepreneurs who need an enabling environment to build sustainable businesses, and for the families who deserve to see their sacrifices reflected in the quality of public services available to them.
It must be a victory for the communities whose resources should translate into development, for the people whose voices deserve to be heard, and for a generation that must not inherit the burden of our failure to act when we had the opportunity to make a difference.
Ultimately, political participation must mean more than securing a place on the ballot. It must mean earning the opportunity to serve and being prepared to justify the trust that opportunity represents.
Yesterday, Abuja gave us reasons to celebrate. It reminded us of the value of solidarity, the strength of shared purpose and the possibilities that emerge when people come together around a common aspiration.
But celebration must give way to responsibility. The structures we are building must produce solutions. The ideas we are advancing must become policies. And the promises we make must find expression in the everyday lives of Nigerians.
As we look towards 2027, I am encouraged by what this journey represents. I return with gratitude for the moment, renewed determination for the work ahead, and a deeper appreciation of what is at stake for Rivers State.
We are not simply working towards an election. We are participating in a defining conversation about the future of our state and country, and the kind of leadership that future deserves.
May we have the wisdom to recognise the moment, the courage to do what is necessary, and the discipline to build something that will outlive us.
For our people. For our children. For the future we owe the next generation.
Rivers State can work. Rivers State must work.
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