By Our Reporter
As Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba’s campaign for the 2027 Okigwe Senatorial election moves through communities across the zone, the significance of the receptions at various stops is becoming a subject of discussion.
Mazi Polycarp Nwokeke has followed the campaign movements closely, observing the interactions with elders, youths, women, traders, professionals and grassroots political actors. From his vantage point, the most revealing aspect is not simply the size of gatherings but the conversations taking place around them.
In this interview, Nwokeke assesses what he has seen on the campaign trail, the mood of the people, Onyirimba’s message, the demand for a change of direction, and the concerns surrounding godfatherism, manipulation, imposition and electoral malpractice.
You have been following Attorney Onyirimba’s campaign movements. What is your overall assessment of what you have seen?
My overall assessment is that something is happening at the grassroots. I have watched the campaign move from one community to another, and what interests me is the variety of people who stop to listen, engage and ask questions.
You see elders, youths, women, traders, professionals and people who ordinarily belong to different political tendencies. That tells you that the conversation is not confined to one narrow political constituency. My verdict, based on what I have personally observed, is that Onyirimba’s campaign has succeeded in putting certain questions on the political table; questions about representation, capacity, accountability and whether Okigwe is ready for a different direction.
What particularly stands out to you about the reception at the various stops?
The spontaneity of some of the interactions. People want to hear directly from the candidate. They ask about his background, his experience, what he can bring to the Senate and what exactly he means by political change. There are huge crowds alright but for me, that is more significant than simply counting people at a rally. A crowd can be assembled. But when ordinary people begin asking questions and discussing a candidate after he leaves, you know that the message has entered the conversation.
Onyirimba did not disappoint them as he provided down to earth answers and unveiled novel ideas that the zone had not experienced before.
What would you say is the pulse of the people at the moment?
Like I have said, Onyirimba did not disappoint. His ideas are topnotch and unique. So, the pulse of the people would be described as a mixture of expectation and dissatisfaction with the way politics has traditionally been conducted.
People are concerned about development. They are concerned about roads, healthcare, education, security, jobs, agriculture, business opportunities and the future of their children.
But there is another issue: people want to feel that their political choices matter. They do not want to be treated as spectators who are only remembered when politicians need votes.
Is that where Onyirimba’s message of a change of direction comes in?
Exactly. His message is essentially asking whether Okigwe can do politics differently.
When he talks about a new direction, I understand it as a challenge to a political culture in which the interests of powerful individuals or political structures overshadow the interests of ordinary citizens. The question is not whether every existing political arrangement is bad. The question is whether the system is producing the kind of representation and development that the people expect.
You have watched Onyirimba alongside the broader political field. How do you assess his proposition compared with the other contestants?
Every contestant has a background, experience and constituency, and voters should examine all of them carefully. But what distinguishes Onyirimba’s proposition, in my observation, is the combination of his professional background, legal experience, international exposure, involvement in Nigerian and Igbo community affairs and his emphasis on political independence and development.
It is believed that these qualities could give him a different perspective on representation.
But let me be clear: a biography alone does not make a senator. The electorate should examine every candidate’s record, ideas, capacity, credibility and programme before making its decision.
Godfatherism has become one of the strongest themes around this campaign. Why?
Because it goes to the heart of who owns the mandate.
Political mentorship is not necessarily a bad thing. Political alliances are also part of democracy. But when an individual or group becomes more important than the electorate, then we have a problem. The elected representative should remember that the mandate belongs to the people. That is why the conversation about godfatherism resonates. People want representation that is accountable to them.
What about political manipulation and imposition?
Those are serious allegations and should be supported by evidence whenever they are made. We should not condemn people merely because somebody makes an accusation. But the democratic principle is simple: people should have a meaningful voice in choosing who represents them. If citizens feel that their political choices are predetermined by forces outside the electorate, confidence in democracy suffers.
And what is your view about result writing and electoral manipulation?
We must move beyond that culture. Elections should be decided by genuine votes. Candidates must campaign peacefully. Parties must respect the rules. Election officials must be professional. Security agencies must protect voters and the integrity of the process. Voters themselves must also remain vigilant and understand the lawful procedures for protecting their votes.
If there are allegations of irregularities, they should be documented and challenged through the appropriate institutions. Violence cannot be the solution.
What makes Onyirimba’s message relevant to the people you have encountered?
I think it is because he is speaking to a frustration that already exists. He is saying that Okigwe does not have to remain trapped in a cycle of political recycling, imposition and dependency. Whether one agrees with every aspect of his argument is another matter. But he has succeeded in forcing people to discuss these issues. That is significant.
What do you expect from the 2027 election?
I expect the electorate to be more demanding. Candidates will have to answer harder questions. People should ask: What is your record? What do you understand about the Senate? What will you do differently? How will you attract development? How will you represent us? How will you remain accountable after election? What did you do with the previous mandate given if any. What will you do differently if you just want to come in? I also expect political actors to reject intimidation, misinformation and violence.
Having watched the campaign movements closely, what is your final verdict on what you are seeing?
My verdict is that Onyirimba has touched a nerve in Okigwe. I say that because the conversations I have witnessed go beyond party slogans. People are discussing representation, political ownership, development and the possibility of a different political culture.
But the ultimate verdict belongs to the electorate. A campaign can generate excitement. A candidate can present a compelling argument. But in a democracy, the people have the final say. What I believe everyone should demand in 2027 is a credible, peaceful and transparent election in which the people are allowed to freely express their choice.
That is the real meaning of democracy, and that is the standard every candidate should be prepared to meet.
Onyirimba has spoken extensively about the “Okigwe Peoples Party” philosophy, even though he is contesting on the ADP platform. What do you understand about this philosophy?
I understand the Okigwe Peoples Party philosophy as the idea that the real political ownership of Okigwe should belong to the people, not to godfathers, political financiers or a small circle of power brokers. It is essentially a philosophy of people-centred politics.
The message is that political parties may provide the platform, but the mandate ultimately belongs to the people. In that sense, “Okigwe Peoples Party” is more of a political philosophy than a conventional party structure. It speaks to the desire of citizens to reclaim their voice and participate meaningfully in deciding who represents them.
Has that message resonated with the people you have encountered on the campaign trail?
From what I have observed, yes, it has generated considerable interest. You hear people discussing the idea in different communities, particularly the notion that their political choices should not be predetermined by powerful individuals.
What appears to resonate most is the simple proposition that the people should have ownership of their mandate. They want to believe that their votes can produce the representative they genuinely choose. As a campaign observer, I can say that the Okigwe Peoples Party idea has become part of the political conversation, and that is significant. Because I have seen many leaders in other political parties collapsing their grassroots structures for Onyirimba. They are not even hiding it. They insist that party structures should be pushed aside in 2027 for personalities with capacity and commitment to work for the people.