2027: PDP Candidate Seeks To Unseat Incumbent, Demands Credible Polls In Orlu/Orsu/Oru East

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chieme Kennedy Okechukwu, has declared his intention to unseat the incumbent representative in the 2027 House of Representatives election, urging voters to assess the records of those who have represented the constituency before deciding their choice.

Okechukwu, who is from Awo Omamma in Oru East Local Government Area, said the election should provide voters in the three local government areas with an opportunity to examine the impact of previous representation on their communities.

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP on Saturday in Abuja, the PDP candidate declined to directly assess the performance of previous representatives, saying the electorate was in the best position to determine whether they had been adequately represented.

“I would rather the people themselves answer that question. If you go into the towns, villages, wards and polling units and ask the people whether they are satisfied with the level of representation they have received, they are in the best position to tell you,” he said.

He urged voters to consider development, empowerment and the impact of federal representation on their communities before deciding whether to retain their representatives or support other candidates.

Okechukwu said his decision to contest the election followed years of professional experience in the scientific and biotechnology fields, including work on gene and cell therapy programmes.

According to him, his professional experience had exposed him to complex problems and the need for practical solutions, adding that some of the challenges facing communities required government intervention, legislation and policy decisions.

He said the National Assembly had a responsibility to address such challenges through legislation, oversight and effective constituency representation.

On what he would seek to do differently if elected, Okechukwu identified security, education, healthcare, youth employment, women’s empowerment and grassroots development as areas he would prioritise.

He said his proposals included educational assistance for students, support for employment opportunities and community-based development projects.

The candidate said he was confident of his chances in the election but acknowledged that the final decision rested with the electorate.

“My confidence comes from my engagement with the people and their understanding of the choices before them. Ultimately, however, the decision belongs to the electorate,” he said.

Okechukwu also ruled out withdrawing from the race to pave the way for another aspirant, saying he was committed to his candidacy.

“I am in this race because I believe I have something meaningful to offer and because I have supporters who believe in the cause,” he said.

On the prospects of the PDP in Imo State, he acknowledged the challenges confronting the party nationally and in the South-East but maintained that the party still had experienced members and an established political base in the state.

He said the party’s performance in the 2027 election would depend, among other factors, on the quality of its candidates and their ability to engage voters at the grassroots.

He said his campaign would therefore focus on engaging voters at the ward and polling-unit levels and presenting his proposals to them.

Okechukwu urged voters to examine the records and backgrounds of all candidates contesting the House of Representatives election before making their choice.

He also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2027 election was conducted credibly, saying the electoral process should protect the choices made by voters.

According to him, the credibility of the election would be important in ensuring that the eventual outcome reflects the will of voters across Orlu, Orsu and Oru East.

He said he expected voters in the constituency to participate actively in the election and make their decision based on the records, programmes and capacity of the candidates.