The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has appointed former House of Representatives member and erstwhile close ally of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, as the party’s Anambra State campaign coordinator.

Ibezi, who previously supported Governor Soludo’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), recently defected to the NDC at a well-attended rally. His appointment is seen as a move to leverage his popularity to drive votes for the party and put APGA in check, particularly amid Soludo’s growing resentment towards Peter Obi.

Meanwhile, Ibezi has quickly swung into action, calling on the people of Anambra State to rally behind Obi and deliver a resounding victory for him, saying that merely winning Obi’s home state is not enough.

In a press statement he released yesterday and made available to journalists, Ibezi said that although the task is daunting, he and his team would move into the 326 political wards, markets and town union meetings to speak to the people about the need for every Anambra vote to go to Peter Obi and other NDC candidates.

He said: “Anambra occupies a peculiar place in this campaign. As the home state of our presidential candidate, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, the expectations are understandably high, and we must rise to meet them. Our responsibility goes beyond securing victory; we must work to ensure that Anambra delivers a resounding mandate, reflected in the strength and number of valid votes cast for Mr. Peter Obi,” Ibezi said.

He added that: “We must reach those who are undecided, those who feel left behind, those who have grown weary of the system, and those who have withdrawn from the electoral process because they no longer believe their votes can make a difference.

“We must listen to them, earn their confidence, and remind them that the future of our country is too important to be surrendered to apathy. The work has begun, and there is no room for complacency.

“We must take this campaign to the 21 LGAs, 326 Wards, 5,720 Polling Units, Markets, Churches and every household in Anambra state. Our objective is clear: to mobilise the people, secure their participation, and translate their aspirations into votes at the polls. We must also ensure that every valid vote counts and that the democratic process reflects the will of the people,” he said.

Ibezi’s appointment marks the beginning of the NDC’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Anambra State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party targeting a strong voter turnout and a decisive victory for Peter Obi and its other candidates. (Arise News)