Only APGA Can Campaign in Okpoko—Community Leader Declares Opposition Efforts Waste of Time
By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
As campaigns for the November 8 gubernatorial election in Anambra State officially begin, Hon Stephen Otuodichukwu Nnaemezie has declared that only the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has any political relevance in Okpoko, a densely populated community in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
According to him, any political party other than APGA that intends to campaign in Okpoko would be wasting its time, energy, and financial resources.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Onitsha, Nnaemezie popularly known as Ohamadike stated emphatically that the people of Okpoko have already decided to stand with APGA and its candidate, incumbent Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, due to his administration’s unprecedented transformation of the once-neglected community.
“Any political party thinking of campaigning in Okpoko should seriously reconsider and divert those resources elsewhere. They will not win a single vote here,” Nnaemezie stated.
The former APGA House of Assembly candidate for Ogbaru I Constituency emphasized that no opposition party has a compelling message that can resonate with the people of Okpoko,largely because Governor Soludo’s government has already addressed the community’s long-standing infrastructural and social neglect.
“Before now, Okpoko was synonymous with abandonment. No roads, no healthcare, no electricity, no clean water,nothing. We were a forgotten people. But Soludo changed that narrative,” he said.
He recalled that during his first gubernatorial campaign, Prof. Soludo promised to begin his development agenda with Okpoko—and fulfilled that pledge immediately after assuming office.
“Soludo started his first major projects in Okpoko. Today, we have accessible roads, street lighting, pipe-borne water, and not just any hospital, but a fully equipped general hospital with qualified doctors and nurses. That level of commitment speaks volumes.”he noted.
Nnaemezie argued that no opposition candidate can claim to match Soludo’s impact in Okpoko and therefore has no meaningful basis upon which to campaign in the area.
“Let them tell us—what exactly do they intend to promise that hasn’t already been delivered or initiated by Soludo? And let’s not forget, several other projects are still ongoing. Okpoko is now a living testimony of what responsive leadership looks like,” he added.
The community leader urged opposition parties to stay away from Okpoko during the campaign season, stating that their presence would only serve as a distraction to residents who are already politically aligned with APGA.
“Okpoko is fully committed to returning Governor Soludo for a second term. Our message is clear: we do not want to be distracted. Let the opposition focus their efforts elsewhere.”he added.
