By CHARLES IWUOHA

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State on Monday officially flagged off its campaign for the August 22 local government elections, with the party leaders calling for peaceful electioneering, massive grassroots mobilisation and increased collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to secure victory across the state’s 13 local government areas and 171 wards.

The campaign was inaugurated in Ikwo Local Government Area, where Governor Francis Nwifuru, represented by the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila, formally presented the party’s flag to the APC chairmanship candidate for Ikwo Local Government Area, Henry Chidi Nwode, and his running mate, signalling the commencement of campaigns for the council polls.

Speaking at the event, Obila described the APC candidates as “tested, trusted and marketable,” urging party supporters to embark on issue-based campaigns and avoid actions capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the election.

“As we present these candidates today, it is your responsibility to go into every community and market them. They are the best products in the field. Do not be distracted by negative propaganda because APC has presented competent candidates who will deliver quality leadership at the grassroots,” she said.

The deputy governor commended the outgoing Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Barrister Sunday Nwankwo, for promoting peace, unity and development in the council, noting that his administration had laid a solid foundation for the incoming leadership.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, stressed that political campaigns should not be mistaken for hostility, urging all political actors to respect the constitutional rights of citizens to belong to political parties of their choice.

“We are not here to fight anybody. Every citizen has the constitutional right to belong to any political party. Nobody should intimidate or attack another because of political differences. Let us conduct ourselves lawfully and peacefully throughout this campaign period,” Elechi said.

He expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious because of the people’s support for Governor Nwifuru’s administration but cautioned party supporters against violence and any act capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.

Also speaking, the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Moses Odunwa, called on party faithful to support APC candidates at all levels, insisting that the party remained united and well-positioned for victory.

He urged residents to maintain peace before, during and after the election and encouraged eligible voters to participate actively in the electoral process.

The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, described the event as the beginning of political mobilisation across the state and urged eligible voters to obtain and safeguard their PVCs ahead of the August 22 council election.

“This is the official flag-off of campaigns across the 13 local government areas and 171 wards of Ebonyi State. I urge our people to get their PVCs ready because every vote will count. We are also looking forward to the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 general elections,” Ogah said.

The APC State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, thanked the people of Ikwo for their steadfast support for the party, maintaining that the APC continued to enjoy widespread acceptance across the local government.

“There is no opposition here. We have come to appreciate the people of Ikwo for standing firmly with the APC. We know that whenever Ikwo endorses a candidate, victory is already assured,” Emegha said.

Speaking on behalf of members of the State Executive Council, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Odoh, reaffirmed the commitment of commissioners to Governor Nwifuru’s administration, declaring that Ikwo remained a stronghold of the APC.

“Ikwo is APC and APC is Ikwo. We are united behind Governor Nwifuru and our candidates. We are confident of delivering overwhelming votes for the party,” Odoh stated.

Director-General of the APC Local Government Campaign Council for Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu, declared that there was “no vacancy until 2031,” expressing confidence that Governor Nwifuru would continue to enjoy overwhelming support from the people of Ebonyi State.

The Executive Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Barrister Sunday Nwankwo, described the choice of Ikwo as the venue for the statewide campaign flag-off as a demonstration of confidence in the people of the area.

According to him, Governor Nwifuru’s developmental strides had strengthened the APC’s popularity, assuring that the people of Ikwo would deliver overwhelming votes for the party in both the council election and subsequent polls.

“What we are witnessing today is beyond the local government election. It is also a demonstration of our readiness for 2027. We assure our governor of our unwavering loyalty, solidarity and total support,” Nwankwo stated.

Receiving the party’s flag, the APC Chairmanship candidate for Ikwo Local Government Area, Henry Chidi Nwode, thanked Governor Nwifuru, the party leadership and the people of Ikwo for the confidence reposed in him.

Nwode described his emergence as the APC candidate as a call to greater service and promised to run an inclusive, transparent and people-centred administration if elected.

He pledged to consolidate on the achievements of the outgoing administration by prioritising rural infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, quality healthcare, education, agricultural development and improved security through close collaboration with community leaders.

“I deeply appreciate the confidence our governor and the APC family have reposed in me. I will not betray this trust. If elected, I will operate an open-door administration anchored on accountability, inclusiveness and service to the people. Every ward and every community in Ikwo will have a sense of belonging in our government,” Nwode said.

He further assured party supporters that he would embark on vigorous grassroots campaigns across the local government while promoting issue-based politics, adding that the APC was fully prepared for a resounding victory in the August 22 council election.

In separate goodwill messages, the APC Youth Leader in Ikwo, Uchenna Nwanchor, the National President of the Ikwo Consultative Forum, Onyinyechi Nwankwo, and other stakeholders pledged sustained grassroots mobilisation to ensure a landslide victory for the APC in the council election.

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