Chief Sunday Inyima, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, has rejected the assertion by the National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, that “progressives are one,” declaring that such a political arrangement does not exist in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Inyima made the declaration while delivering a goodwill message at the Ohaukwu Local Government Headquarters during a mega campaign rally for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.
The commissioner said the people of Ohaukwu had made up their minds to support the APC and its candidates at various levels, including Governor Francis Nwifuru, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the member representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Rep. Eze Nwachukwu Eze, as well as candidates for the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and other elective positions from the council area.
His remarks came against the backdrop of a recent endorsement rally in Abakaliki where Soludo reportedly declared that “progressives are one,” in apparent reference to political collaboration among parties and leaders with progressive inclinations.
But Inyima said the political reality in Ohaukwu was different, insisting that the people of the area were firmly behind the APC.
He cautioned APC supporters to remain vigilant whenever they found themselves in political gatherings with persons advancing the “progressives are one” narrative, alleging that the slogan was being used to market candidates to the electorate.
According to him, the people of Ohaukwu have developed what he described as a peculiar formula for winning elections and would not disclose it until the day of the poll.
Inyima said, “Progressives are not one in Ohaukwu Local Government Area. The people of Ohaukwu have decided where they belong politically, and they have resolved to support all the candidates of the APC.
“We must be vigilant whenever we have cause to move together with those shouting that progressives are one.
Sometimes, such slogans are merely used to sell candidates to the public.
“We have our own formula for winning elections in Ohaukwu, and we are not ready to reveal that formula to anybody until the day of the election.”
The commissioner urged party faithful to intensify grassroots mobilisation and take the message of the achievements of the present administration to communities across the local government area.
He said the APC's ward-to-ward campaign had provided an opportunity for party members to engage residents who had initially believed that opposition parties were coming to offer them a better alternative.
“There are other political parties that have the letter ‘P’ in their names, yet they cannot go to their various states and say that progressives are one. It is only in Ohaukwu and some few local government areas that you hear such a thing,” Inyima said.
He also alleged that APGA operatives were less visible during daytime political campaigns in the area because, according to him, they were aware of the APC's political strength in Ohaukwu.
“These people called APGA carry out their operations at night. You can hardly see them during the day campaigning because they know that Ohaukwu is for the APC and nothing more,” he said.
The commissioner further declared that the political strength of the APC in the area was such that the party remained the dominant political platform among the electorate.
“So, my message to the people of Ohaukwu is that we don't have two political parties in the area. No right-thinking individual thinks of belonging to two political parties,” he stated.
Inyima said the large turnout at the campaign rally was a clear indication of the political direction of the people and a reflection of what the APC expected at the polls.
He attributed the party's acceptance to the performance of the Nwifuru administration, saying the governor had recorded projects and interventions that had directly impacted communities in Ohaukwu.
According to him, some of the interventions include the construction of two-kilometre roads for autonomous communities and efforts by the state government to restore and sustain peace among previously warring communities in the local government area.
He urged the people to continue to support the Nwifuru administration and ensure that the APC candidates received overwhelming support during the elections.
Inyima maintained that the achievements of the state government should form a major part of the party's campaign message, particularly at the grassroots, where he said residents should be reminded of the development projects and peace initiatives of the present administration.
The commissioner called on APC supporters not to be distracted by opposition campaigns, expressing confidence that the party would maintain its political dominance in Ohaukwu.
He said the massive attendance at the rally demonstrated the people's commitment to the APC and their readiness to support the party's candidates when elections are held.
“Our duty now is to go into the hinterlands and preach the good works of the present administration. We have seen the support of the people, and we must sustain that support through effective mobilisation and engagement with our communities,” Inyima said.
