The electorate in Anambra Central have thrown their weight behind the Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate, Senator Victor Umeh; the House of Representatives candidate, Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu; and other Labour Party candidates vying for the State House of Assembly ahead of the February 25 general elections.
The town hall meeting, which took place on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the Stanel Dome, Awka, was organized by the Concerned Anambra Central Voters’ Forum.
According to source, the voters were drawn from the seven local government areas in Anambra Central, namely Awka North, Awka South, Dunukofia, Idemili North, Idemili South, Anaocha and Njikoka.
Speaking during the town hall meeting that attracted over a thousand voters, Sen. Umeh reminded his audience of the primary duties of the National Assembly, which, according to him, include making laws for the good governance of Nigeria; approving budget estimates and all requests submitted to the National Assembly as well as overseeing government activities, among others.
While highlighting his achievements in the 8th Assembly, the LP senatorial candidate said that, if given the mandate, he would continue to speak for Ndigbo (the Igbo ethnic group) as well as provide outstanding representation.
He, therefore, urged his audience to support him and other Labour Party candidates during the general elections, even as he enjoined them to ignore the news of his purported disqualification, saying that it was orchestrated by his opponents who are afraid of him.
‘Mr. Peter Obi is the only hope we have now. We must key behind him and all other Labour Party presidential candidates.
‘We have competent and qualified candidates who have the capacity to change the status quo.
‘We will provide quality and outstanding representation for you when we get there because we will be joining our voices to the national debates and issues as it affects you,’ Sen. Umeh promised.
In a remark, Prof. Orogbu reminded her audience that politics is dynamic, adding that the change Nigerians are clamouring for must be matched by voting massively for Mr. Peter Obi and other Labour Party candidates whom she described as eminently qualified and competent to steer the ship.
‘A new Nigeria is coming and you must be part of this story.
‘We are making sacrifices to represent you, so you must also make your own sacrifice by coming out en masse to vote for competence and to call back those who are not representing you very well.
‘It will not be business as usual because we must sacrifice our personal interests for our common, collective interests.
‘You must have to be partners in governance by holding your leaders accountable’, said Prof. Orogbu, a human development expert, while highlighting the need to curb crimes through skill acquisition and youth empowerment.
Also, the Labour Party candidate for Awka North in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ferdinand Onwuje, and LP’s candidate for Awka South, Hon. Henry Mbachu, urged the participants to support candidates of the Labour Party, while calling on those to serve as INEC Ad-Hoc staff and collation officers to avoid rigging elections.
The convener of Concerned Anambra Central Voters, Dr. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, who spoke on behalf of his team, assured his guests that the participants would support Labour Party candidates during the elections, adding that everyone present at the town hall meeting had their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and was eligible to vote within the Anambra Central Senatorial District.
Participants in various interviews appreciated the organizers, urging them not to rest on their oars, even as they reiterated their unalloyed support for the Labour Party candidates.
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