…Defends broad-based campaign strategy, cites 20,000 polling unit coordinators
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Orlu/Orsu/Oru-East Federal Constituency in Imo State, Hon. Chieme Kennedy Okechukwu, has denied allegations that he is working to advance the political ambition of Governor Hope Uzodimma, describing the claims as unfounded and misleading.
Okechukwu reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, insisting that his grassroots mobilisation efforts were designed to strengthen the party and improve its chances of defeating the incumbent in the 2027 House of Representatives election.
Uzodimma, who is seeking election to the Senate to represent Imo West Senatorial District, is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by his campaign office on Monday, Okechukwu said he had neither met nor communicated with the governor, dismissing suggestions of a political alliance between them.
“I have never met Chief Hope Uzodinma, nor have I ever communicated with him, either formally or informally. Any claim suggesting that I am working for him is unfounded and misleading,” he stated.
The PDP candidate argued that his decision to build a broad-based political coalition should not be interpreted as disloyalty to his party, explaining that the strategy was intended to widen the PDP’s support base and attract voters across political divides.
He maintained that winning elections required more than meetings and social engagements, stressing the importance of clear objectives, strategic planning, effective coordination and sustained grassroots mobilisation.
Okechukwu also urged PDP leaders and representatives across Orlu, Orsu and Oru-East Local Government Areas to develop practical campaign plans with clearly defined responsibilities, voter engagement strategies and measurable targets.
He said, “Focusing on the grassroots is key. The people at the grassroots are the foundation of electoral victory. They are the people whose support we must earn through direct engagement, effective mobilization, and a credible campaign structure. This is precisely what my team has been working to establish across the constituency.
“My commitment to the PDP must be matched by responsibility, strategic thinking, and measurable action from all parties involved.
“My campaign team had taken the initiative to build a broad-based political structure that extends beyond the PDP to incorporate people from different political affiliations.
“Contesting against an incumbent requires a broader coalition rather than relying exclusively on the traditional membership of one political party, hence the need to adopt an inclusive, organized, and people-centred approach to grassroots mobilization.
“My campaign had established a substantial grassroots presence across the constituency, with over 20,000 Polling Unit (PU) Coordinators across Orlu, Orsu, and Oru-East Local Government Areas.
“In addition to that, six campaign structures had already been established across the constituency: three in Orlu, two in Oru-East, and one in Orsu, with efforts ongoing to establish additional structures.
“These are tangible efforts towards building a formidable grassroots campaign.
“Although our structure cuts across different political affiliations, our objective is to use it to promote the PDP and strengthen its electoral prospects.
“When we engage the people, we encourage them to support the PDP, not merely to vote for me as an individual.
“The structure could also provide significant support for the PDP’s senatorial candidate by strengthening the party’s presence and mobilization capacity across the constituency.
“There is the need to move beyond repeated meetings and concentrate on a coordinated plan capable of translating grassroots mobilization into electoral success.
“Our collective goal should be to win this election, and every effort must be directed towards achieving that objective, not undermining it.
“We must replace distractions with strategy, sentiments with action, and repeated meetings with measurable progress towards victory,” he concluded.
