Exclusive Interview
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Nigeria Needs a New Direction’ — DLA Presidential Candidate Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka Speaks on His Vision for 2027
Intro: As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka, shares his vision for Nigeria in this exclusive interview with Caroline Ameh.
The medical doctor-turned-politician speaks on why he believes the country needs a new direction, the ideology behind the DLA, his plans to tackle insecurity, unemployment and poor governance, his rejection of money politics, and why he is convinced Nigeria can become a global power under visionary leadership.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: I am Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka, a medical doctor from Enugu State, Nigeria.
Q: You are venturing into Nigerian politics, one of the most competitive political environments in Africa. What inspired your decision?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: My motivation comes from the state of our country. We have reached a point where every generation seems to believe that yesterday was better than today. Under military rule, Nigerians longed for democracy. After democracy came, many began to reminisce about military rule. Since then, every successive government has often been judged as performing worse than the previous one.
That tells us something is fundamentally wrong. We cannot continue on this path. My motivation is to help fix Nigeria and ensure that our future becomes better than our past.
Q: You have built a reputation as a medical professional with a clean record. Nigerian politics is often described as dirty. Why enter such a space?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: If good people continue to avoid politics because it is dirty, then those who make it dirty will continue to dominate it. The solution is not to run away but to participate and clean the system. We have no choice if we truly want to transform Nigeria.
Q: Do you believe Nigeria can become great again?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Nigeria is already great by design. God endowed this country with everything required to become a global power. We have one of Africa’s largest populations, access to the Atlantic Ocean, fertile agricultural land, abundant water resources, crude oil, lithium and many other mineral resources.
The challenge is not that Nigeria lacks greatness. The challenge is that Nigerians have not fully realized and harnessed that greatness.
Q: You have spoken about charting a new direction for Nigeria. Why is a new direction necessary?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: The current direction is not taking us anywhere meaningful. Nigerians live with uncertainty and fear about the future. Many cannot confidently predict where they will be in five years.
We need a direction that restores hope, where young people can confidently aspire to become doctors, engineers, journalists or entrepreneurs, knowing that their dreams are achievable. Today, many are simply struggling to survive.
Q: What is the ideology of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA)? How is it different from other political parties?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Our slogan is “A new direction for Nigeria.”
We believe DLA is the only genuine opposition because our ideology differs fundamentally from the dominant political culture. Most existing parties operate within a capitalist framework. We advocate social democracy.
Capitalism places greater emphasis on individual interests and wealth accumulation, while social democracy prioritizes the welfare and development of the people. We believe government should invest in infrastructure, industries, healthcare, education and opportunities that benefit society as a whole rather than pursuing projects driven primarily by private interests.
Q: Many Nigerians are familiar with capitalism. What does social democracy mean in practical terms?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Social democracy focuses on the collective welfare of citizens. Rather than merely spending public funds on projects, government should invest in industries that create jobs and strengthen the economy.
For instance, instead of importing or simply installing technology, we should establish industries that manufacture such technology locally. That approach creates employment, develops local capacity and stimulates long-term economic growth.
Q: Nigeria faces deep divisions along ethnic, religious and political lines. How would your administration promote national unity?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Division weakens a nation. We believe politics should unite rather than divide citizens.
Nigeria’s diversity should become a source of strength. Under social democracy, every Nigerian should feel equally valued regardless of ethnicity, religion or region. Our focus will be on inclusive governance that ensures every citizen has equal opportunities and equal ownership of the Nigerian project.
Q: Nigeria faces enormous challenges in security, healthcare, education and the judiciary. What would you do differently?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: As a medical doctor, I believe every problem has a root cause. Many governments have treated symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes.
Nigeria’s problems must be understood within their historical and geopolitical context. We need to identify the structural issues affecting our development and address them comprehensively instead of applying temporary solutions.
Q: You have mentioned external interests influencing Nigeria’s development. Can you explain further?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Throughout history, foreign powers have shown significant interest in Nigeria’s natural resources. During colonial rule, infrastructure such as railways and ports was largely developed to facilitate the extraction of resources.
In my view, understanding these historical realities is important if Nigeria is to fully protect its national interests and develop independently.
Q: Political parties often struggle with loyalty, especially after elections. How will DLA build leaders who remain committed to its ideals?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: At DLA, membership goes beyond registration. We place strong emphasis on political education and leadership training.
Every prospective leader undergoes an orientation period to understand our ideology, values and vision. We believe knowledge builds conviction. A well-informed member is less likely to abandon the party because of financial inducement or political pressure.
Q: Vote-buying remains a major issue in Nigerian politics. How do you intend to compete in such an environment?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: Civic education is our strongest weapon. We have established structures across polling units nationwide to educate Nigerians about their role in nation-building.
When citizens understand the long-term cost of selling their votes for small amounts of money or food items, they begin to reject such practices. We believe awareness and political education are stronger than financial inducement.
Q: How confident are you that Nigerians are ready to reject money politics?
Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuka: My confidence comes from the large number of registered voters who have consistently stayed away from elections. According to INEC’s voter register, millions of Nigerians possess Permanent Voter Cards but have not participated in previous elections.
Many of these citizens have become disillusioned with recycled politics. I believe they are waiting for a credible alternative that genuinely represents their aspirations. We believe DLA offers that alternative and that many Nigerians are now ready to embrace meaningful political change.