Key speakers at a political rally held in Ezi Anam ward, Anambra West LGA, on Saturday, August 30, have issued a clarion call for unprecedented voter turnout, emphasizing that Anambra West must harness its full electoral strength of nearly 70,000 registered voters to secure its rightful place in state governance and development priorities.
The rally’s central message revolved around transforming the region’s electoral participation from its previous modest showing of 1,800 votes to numbers that would reflect the true demographic weight of Anambra West.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Chief TonyCollins Nwabunwanne articulated this strategic imperative clearly, explaining that Governor Soludo “will pay faster attention to those who gave him the highest number of votes instead of the 1,800 votes last time.” This frank assessment underscored the political reality that electoral performance directly correlates with government responsiveness and resource allocation.
Building on this theme, speakers emphasized that Anambra West’s substantial voter registration figures represent untapped political capital that could dramatically reshape the region’s influence in state affairs. The gap between the area’s registration numbers approaching 70,000 and its actual voting performance presents both a challenge and an enormous opportunity for local leaders seeking to maximize their constituents’ political leverage.
Commissioner Nwabunwanne’s appeal transcended party boundaries as he urged citizens “irrespective of party affiliations, to re-elect Soludo for the betterment of now and future.” This inclusive approach reflected the speakers’ understanding that mobilizing the region’s full voting strength requires unity across traditional political divides. The commissioner’s vision extended to infrastructure transformation, declaring that “Ezi Anam will be the gateway of Anambra West when the road to Onono is done,” but implicitly linking such development to the region’s ability to deliver substantial electoral support.
The timing of these appeals coincided with announcements of the administration’s broader developmental agenda, including the progression of three new cities: Awka 2.0, Onitsha 2.0, and a new Industrial City. The completion of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City Master Plan and railway master plan feasibility study demonstrated the state’s capacity for large-scale projects, making the speakers’ arguments about electoral influence more compelling to their audience.
Rally organizers seized the momentum to welcome several new APGA members, viewing this expansion as crucial to building the organizational infrastructure necessary for maximum voter mobilization. The warm reception of new party entrants by stakeholders and executives reflected the recognition that achieving the targeted high turnout would require robust grassroots networks and sustained community engagement.
Former Anambra West Transition Committee chairman Hon. Orji Okafor reinforced the patience-and-participation message, urging constituents “to be patient with the governor if they feel there are still things not done yet because he will surely do more.” His appeal implicitly acknowledged that ongoing development initiatives across the region would accelerate in proportion to the area’s electoral performance, making voter mobilization an investment in future infrastructure and programs.
The extraordinary turnout at the Ezi Anam event itself served as both a demonstration of the region’s mobilization potential and a preview of what could be achieved on election day. Local leaders expressed confidence that this grassroots energy could be channeled into the kind of massive voter participation that would unlock Anambra West’s full political influence.
Musical performances throughout the event created an atmosphere of celebration and unity, reinforcing the speakers’ message that high voter turnout represented not just political strategy but community empowerment. The entertainment component helped sustain audience engagement while leaders delivered their core message about translating registration numbers into actual votes.
The event’s host, Dr. Bobmanuel Okonmah demonstrated his commitment to maximum participation by providing excess assorted foods and drinks for all attendees, along with adequate transport fare to ensure no one faced financial barriers to participation. His generous hospitality underscored the serious investment community leaders were making in voter mobilization efforts.
Beyond the material provisions, Okonmah concluded the rally by expressing satisfaction with the massive turnout and reiterating Governor Soludo’s commitment to Anambra West’s development. However, his closing remarks crystallized the event’s central theme: “re-electing the governor with massive votes will ensure that Anambra West demands are met faster.” This statement encapsulated the speakers’ fundamental argument that the region’s nearly 70,000 registered voters represent a sleeping giant that, once awakened, could transform Anambra West’s political influence and developmental trajectory.
The rally thus represented more than a campaign event; it served as a strategic planning session for maximizing electoral participation and converting demographic strength into political power. Speakers consistently emphasized that achieving turnout levels commensurate with the region’s registration figures would position Anambra West as a formidable force in state politics, ensuring that its development priorities receive the attention and resources they deserve.
