As count-down to the March 28 Presidential/National Assembly election nears zero, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, is gathering more supporters as people of Ogidi community, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State holistically adopted him as their candidate.

The event which was tagged ‘APGA Day’, took place at St Philip’s Primary School, was mapped out by the community to appreciate the APGA administration for the numerous projects sited in their community and appointments bestowed on its citizens. Highlights of the occasion included dancing, masquerade displays, as well as a huge feast, as the entire community trooped out to thank APGA for such gestures.

In his speech, the President-General of Ogidi Union, Dr Eric Obiakor, explained why the community decided to not only adopt Umeh, as its sole candidate for the Senatorial election, but all other APGA candidates and APGA itself as a political party, because no other party has done what APGA did for them.

He said: “Beginning with Governor Peter Obi, the government of APGA has constructed so many roads in the community, repaired schools, rehabilitated Iyienu Mission Hospital, while their sons and daughters are in government holding responsible positions. He reeled out names of those who have benefited from APGA government as follows: Dr. Lawrence Ikeako, who was Commissioner for Health and later Chief Medical Director of Odumegwu-Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka; Amaechi Akunne, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Environment; Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Senior Special Assistant on Creative Media and Clement Chukwuka, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Small Business Agency.

According to Obiakor, Obiano flagged off two roads simultaneously, “if he is encouraged with large votes for APGA, he will do more.”

Co-ordinator of the occasion, Chief Sam Obi Anyamutaku, while expressing gratitude to the state governor for the various roads he is constructing for the community within his one year in office, said the day was APGA Day in Ogidi.

“Today we hand Ogidi over to APGA as official party of our community.

We have collapsed all other parties into APGA for the sake of the coming election. We have resolved to vote for APGA and we must not betray APGA because of the many road works it has in this community.”

Anyamutaku further promised to give N1million to Ogidi men and women respectively if APGA wins all the seats in the community.

In his response, Umeh, who spoke on behalf of other candidates, thanked Ogidi community for their appreciation of what the government has been doing for them.

“Today has been a special day in Ogidi as the people organised APGA Day. The high point is that all the leaders of the community are present. Ogidi has not been my traditional base but, based on the work of the government, they today threw their weight behind APGA and based on this, APGA will sweep the polls. In this election it will be a resounding victory for APGA. What I will do for them when I get into the Senate is that I will strengthen the bond of friendship.

“Today, Obiano and Ogidi people are joined in a covenant to work together,” Umeh said.

•File photo shows Victor Umeh fielding questins from newsmen.

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