2027: Okigwe doesn't need a 'house boy' senator

Tasks members to defend their votes
Development, job creation, poverty alleviation top my agenda – Ejiogu

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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has said that Okigwe Zone does not need a “house boy” as its senator in 2027.

He also tasked members of the party to ensure that their votes are counted and to prevent anyone from rigging their candidates out in the 16 January presidential and National Assembly polls.

Anyanwu stated this at the flag-off of the campaign of the party’s senatorial and House of Representatives candidates at the weekend.

Anyanwu, who presented the party’s flags to the candidates, showered special commendation on Chief Mike Ejiogu, Barr. Ikenna Emeruem and Chief Chris Onye, insisting that their pedigree and impressive credentials clearly distinguished them from other contenders and made the PDP the favourite to win in Okigwe Zone.

He said: “You can’t leave the master and then send a house boy to Abuja as your senator. The house boy they sent to Abuja, of what use has he been to Okigwe people? He does not know what to do. To the Okigwe people, this is the man (Ejiogu) for your liberation. This is the golden opportunity for total liberation of the Okigwe zone. He is not going alone but with the candidates of both Okigwe South and Okigwe North. These are people with proven pedigrees of empowering the people of Okigwe Zone.

Continuing, he said: “None of the candidates of the other parties can match them. The PDP remains the only party in Nigeria that knows how to take care of the people. What we have today are looters who don’t care whether the people are dying or not. Our people have suffered a lot.”

However, he tasked members of the party to protect their votes and not to allow anyone to write fake results during the 16 January polls.

“You must protect your votes. Don’t be afraid of anyone; they will not do anything. When their thugs come to your polling unit, stand your ground, don’t run away, because that is what they want, to snatch the ballot boxes and run away. After voting, you must stay back to ensure that the votes are counted. You must follow them to the collation centre to ensure that results are not manipulated. You saw what happened in the Osun governorship polls that we are going to do. They write their fake results, for which they are known, but the people did not allow them to bring it in, and they lost.”

Earlier, addressing the mammoth crowd of supporters, Chief Mike Ejiogu (Onowu) reiterated that he was on a mission to lead the transformation of Okigwe through legislation, job creation, infrastructure development, human capital development, economic welfare support for vulnerable individuals and households, among other initiatives.

He decried the high rate of hunger, poverty and deprivation in the zone, admitting that the situation had remained a source of deep concern to him, a tide he promised to stem by ensuring that opportunities attracted through government sources got down to the grassroots.

Ejiogu, a hugely successful real estate mogul, industrialist and philanthropist, stressed that his election as senator would change the fortunes of Okigwe and give him an opportunity to extend his many years of community development initiatives, youth and women empowerment programmes, support for vulnerable families and mentorship of young people towards a brighter future.

Speaking, the House of Representatives candidate for Okigwe South Federal Constituency, Barr. Ikenna Emeruem, assured supporters that the party would coast to victory in the federal constituency and Okigwe Zone at large.

The renowned legal luminary emphasised that supporting and voting for him and the PDP represented an opportunity the good people of Okigwe South should not miss, stressing that his ambition was driven by a genuine desire to serve the people of the area.

Also, the party’s House of Representatives candidate for Okigwe North Federal Constituency, Chief Chris Onye, emphasised his readiness to offer the constituency quality representation it had never experienced.

He assured the people that he would be an accessible and responsive representative, committed to addressing the specific needs of his constituents through effective legislative representation.

The House of Assembly candidates who also formally flagged off their campaigns included Hon. Uchenna Anyanwu for Ehime Mbano State Constituency; Engr. Chinonyerem Ajaelu for Ihitte-Uboma; Hon. Godson Anyaeze for Obowo; Hon. Chima Iwundu for Isiala Mbano; Hon. Jude Obidiaku for Onuimo; and Hon. Anayo Offor for Okigwe State Constituency.

Among the dignitaries and top party leaders in attendance were the PDP National Youth Leader, Amb. Bala Aboki; the Imo West senatorial candidate, Rt Hon. Jones Onyereri, PhD; the Imo East senatorial candidate, H.E. Prince Eze Madumere; the Southeast Zonal Secretary of the party, Hon. Mike Ahumibe; the PDP State Chairman, Rt Hon. Austine Nwachukwu; and the Southeast Zonal Ex-Officio, Mrs Esther Aguwamba, among others.