The campaign council of Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba, the ADP flag bearer for the 2027 Okigwe Zone senatorial election, on Friday visited Umuduruagwu Ward in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, where community stakeholders expressed support for his aspiration and called for a new approach to representation, accountability and development in the zone.
Umuduruagwu, a major ward in the local council with numerous polling booths, occupies a strategic position in the local political landscape. The visit brought the campaign delegation face-to-face with community leaders and stakeholders, particularly representatives of Booth 005, who highlighted the importance of credible leadership and the protection of the electorate’s mandate.
The campaign’s Chief Strategist, Chief Ferdinand Ogor, who hails from the area, introduced members of the delegation and explained that they had come to solicit the community’s support for Onyirimba’s senatorial ambition.
Ogor disclosed that Onyirimba had contested election twice but was denied victory on both occasions. He expressed confidence that the 2027 contest would provide an opportunity for the ling denied victory, praying that the candidate would prevail by the grace of God.
He further revealed that he joined the campaign team about five months ago and had received a sport utility vehicle to facilitate his mobility and campaign responsibilities. He commended the Director-General of the campaign council, Mrs Favour Nwelue, for facilitating the gesture.
Highlighting the electoral importance of the community, Ogor described Booth 005 as one of the polling centres with a high number of registered voters in the area. He also noted that the community’s six constituent villages and its links with other polling centres in Ogbor and Isiala Mbano made it an important constituency in the senatorial contest.
Addressing the gathering, the Director-General, Mrs Nwelue, challenged residents to examine the performance of successive representatives and ask what Okigwe Zone had gained from years of electoral mandates.
She lamented the persistence of poor roads, limited employment opportunities and other developmental challenges, observing that many graduates had been compelled to resort to commercial motorcycle and tricycle operations to earn a living.
Nwelue argued that legislative representation should be about lawmaking, effective oversight, attracting development and advancing the interests of constituents, rather than serving personal business interests. She also alleged that political godfatherism had compromised the independence of some elected representatives, making them more answerable to their sponsors than to the people.
According to her, Onyirimba offers a credible alternative because he is not beholden to an individual political godfather and would be better positioned to pursue the interests of the people without such constraints.
She challenged residents to scrutinise candidates’ records, compare their present promises with their past performance and demand explanations for development projects that had remained unrealised despite repeated election campaigns.
Nwelue also questioned how public allocations and other resources intended for Okigwe Zone had been utilised, contrasting the area’s persistent infrastructure challenges with the progress she said other parts of Imo State had recorded.
She insisted that public resources should serve the people rather than private interests and called for greater accountability in the management of funds and projects intended for constituency development.
The Director-General further disclosed that Onyirimba was financing his campaign from personal resources, arguing that this demonstrated his independence from political predators.
Nwelue also cited his philanthropic activities, including sponsoring individuals abroad and assisting people with housing, and urged community members to verify his record.
Describing Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano as closely connected communities, Nwelue called for solidarity across their shared interests. She also reminded voters that the ADP appears third on the ballot paper, with a Bible as its symbol.
She maintained that the campaign was seeking a mandate that would translate into tangible benefits for the people, stressing that representation should be judged by its impact on roads, jobs, infrastructure and the general welfare of constituents.
Responding on behalf of Umuduruagwu Booth 005, the community chairman, Hon. Ogor, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation to Onyirimba for providing a vehicle to support Ferdinand Ogor’s campaign responsibilities.
He disclosed that the community maintained links with several other polling centres in Ogbor and Isiala Mbano, suggesting that support for the candidate could extend beyond Booth 005.
The chairman also observed that voters were increasingly assessing candidates on their individual records and qualities rather than relying exclusively on party affiliations. He pledged the community’s support for Onyirimba, declaring that the position of Booth 005 was settled.
“Since our brother is there, we are there,” he said, while commending Onyirimba for reportedly financing his campaign personally.
He, however, advised that the candidate and his team must make adequate arrangements to protect the votes cast in his favour, stressing that the electorate’s decision must be safeguarded throughout the electoral process.
The community’s legal adviser reinforced the chairman’s position, assuring the delegation that the people of Booth 005 were favourably disposed towards Onyirimba. He echoed the view that voters were increasingly looking beyond party labels to assess the individuals seeking their mandate.
Another stakeholder, Obinobi, expressed appreciation for the vehicle presented to Ferdinand Ogor, describing the gesture as encouraging. He also assured the delegation of the community’s support and expressed optimism about the prospect of improved conditions for the people.
The visit forms part of the Onyirimba campaign council’s continuing consultations across the six local government areas of Okigwe Zone ahead of the 2027 senatorial election, with discussions focusing on accountable representation, infrastructure, employment opportunities and the protection of the electorate’s mandate.