By Tony
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In this exclusive interview, Mrs. Favour Nwelue, Director-General of the Attorney Charles Onyirimba Transformation Agenda Campaign Organisation, speaks on the campaign’s strategy for the 2027 Okigwe Zone senatorial election, the challenges ahead, grassroots mobilisation, women and youth participation, the strength of the opposition, and why she is confident that Attorney Charles Onyirimba can emerge victorious.
Madam DG, you have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the campaign machinery for Attorney Charles Onyirimba. How prepared are you for the task?
I am very prepared. I understand the enormity of the responsibility, but I also understand the opportunity before us. This is not merely about winning a Senate seat for one individual. It is about giving the people of Okigwe Zone an opportunity to make a different political choice.
We have six local government areas, hundreds of communities, wards and polling units, different political interests and different expectations. So, we are approaching this election systematically.
My responsibility is to bring all these moving parts together, establish an efficient campaign structure, mobilise our people and ensure that the message of Attorney Charles Onyirimba reaches every corner of Okigwe Zone.
We are not taking this election for granted. We are preparing to work for every vote.
You are a woman leading one of the most strategic positions in the Onyirimba campaign. In a political environment often dominated by men, do you see your gender as an advantage or a challenge?
I see it as an advantage. Leadership is not determined by gender but by competence, courage, discipline and results. As a woman, I bring my own perspective, energy and strengths to the assignment. I am also conscious that my position sends a powerful message to women across Okigwe Zone: there is room for women at the highest levels of political leadership. I intend to justify the confidence reposed in me by delivering results.
What is your winning strategy?
Our strategy is simple but comprehensive: organisation, mobilisation, communication, persuasion and voter protection. We are building from the local government level down to the wards and polling units. We want every part of Okigwe Zone properly covered.
But mobilisation alone is not enough. You must give people a reason to vote for you. That is why we are taking the message of competence, capacity, integrity and purposeful representation directly to the people.
We want voters to ask themselves a very simple question: Who can make the Okigwe Senate seat count?
Our answer is Attorney Charles Onyirimba. He brings legal knowledge, international exposure, public affairs experience, political experience and a network that can potentially be deployed for the benefit of the people.
Your opponents have established political structures and, in some cases, the advantages of incumbency and major party machinery. Isn’t that a serious obstacle?
Of course, it is a challenge. We would be deceiving ourselves if we pretended otherwise. But elections are not won by political labels alone. Structures matter, resources matter, experience matters, but ultimately the people decide.
Our task is to build a structure strong enough to translate public goodwill into actual votes. We are not intimidated by the size of anybody’s political machinery. We respect every opponent, but we are determined to build an organisation that is disciplined, strategic people-centric, and deeply rooted in the communities.
The fact that our platform may not have the same historical political footprint as some of the established parties simply means that we have to work harder, organise better and communicate more effectively.
And that is exactly what we are doing.
However, our freshness is strength. We don’t have the baggage others have which the people are fed up with. We are a credible alternative.
How do you intend to convert the enthusiasm around Onyirimba into votes on election day?
That is one of the most important questions. Crowds do not vote. Social media does not vote. Newspaper headlines do not vote. Polling units produce votes. Therefore, our campaign is moving beyond excitement to structure.
We are building ward structures, engaging communities, identifying committed supporters and strengthening our presence at the grassroots. We are also encouraging voters to participate lawfully in the electoral process and to protect their mandate.
Every supporter must understand that supporting Onyirimba is not enough. You must register where necessary, know your polling unit, obtain your PVC, turn out on election day and vote. The journey from campaign rally to victory is completed at the polling unit.
Women appear to be becoming increasingly visible in the Onyirimba movement. How important are women to your strategy?
Women are not an appendage to this campaign. They are central to it.It is deliberate. Because women understand what is happening in their homes and communities. They understand the pressure on families, the challenges facing young people, the difficulties of small businesses, healthcare, education and insecurity. So, when women begin asking questions about representation, politicians should listen.
We are deliberately strengthening women’s participation in the campaign because women are not merely voters; they are influencers, organisers, community builders and political stakeholders. The recent support expressed by women leaders is encouraging, but we are not going to sit back and celebrate endorsements. We intend to convert that goodwill into sustained grassroots engagement.
And what about the youths?
The youths are critical. We cannot build a 21st-century political movement using only yesterday’s methods. Young people must be involved in communication, research, mobilisation, digital engagement and community outreach. But beyond the campaign, we want young people to understand that politics is about their future. They should not allow anybody to reduce their political value to a bag of rice, a token payment or a temporary inducement. The future of Okigwe belongs to them.
What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the Onyirimba campaign?
I would identify three.
First is the strength of established political structures.
Second is the temptation to reduce elections to money and inducements.
Third is voter apathy and the belief that nothing can change.
We intend to confront all three.
We will build our structures. We will continue to educate voters about the value of their mandate. And we will keep telling our people that their vote is powerful. We cannot control what other candidates do. But we can control our organisation, our message, our discipline and our relationship with the electorate.
Are you worried about vote buying?
We are concerned about anything that undermines the free choice of the people. Our message is clear: don’t sell your vote.
Your vote is not merely something you exchange for a temporary benefit. It is your voice for the next four years. If somebody gives you money, that does not mean you have surrendered your conscience. Voters must understand that political inducement cannot replace good representation. We want an election where the people freely choose the person they believe can represent them best.
Some people may say that Onyirimba has impressive credentials, but elections are won on the ground, not on paper. What is your response?
They are right. Elections are won on the ground. And that is why we are on the ground. Attorney Onyirimba’s credentials are not the campaign strategy. They are part of the value proposition. Our job is to connect that capacity with the needs of ordinary people.
A farmer wants roads and access to markets. A young graduate wants opportunity. A trader wants an environment where business can thrive. Parents want better schools and healthcare. Communities want effective advocacy and development.
The question is: who can take these concerns to Abuja and pursue them intelligently? That is where Onyirimba’s experience and exposure become relevant.
What makes you personally confident that you can deliver him?
Because I am sure of tge quality of the product I am marketing. I understand the terrain, and I understand the assignment. I am not approaching this as somebody who believes that one rally will win an election.
We will work community by community, ward by ward and local government by local government. There will be difficult days. There will be disappointments. There will be political attacks. There will be attempts to discourage our supporters. But leadership means remaining focused when the environment becomes difficult. I am prepared for the pressure.
What happens if the campaign encounters internal disagreements?
Every serious organisation will have differences of opinion. The important thing is how you manage them. We have brought together people from different backgrounds, political experiences and professional fields. That diversity is a strength if properly managed. My responsibility as DG is coordination.
We will listen, consult, resolve disagreements internally and maintain discipline. Nobody’s personal ambition should be allowed to undermine the collective objective. The campaign is bigger than any individual.
There are six local government areas in Okigwe Zone. How do you intend to ensure that no area feels neglected?
That is precisely why we are building a decentralised structure. Okigwe is not one community. It is a senatorial district made up of six local government areas, each with its own peculiarities.
Our message must, therefore, be locally relevant while remaining consistent at the zonal level. We intend to engage every local government, every ward and, as much as possible, every community. We are not interested in a campaign that is strong in one area and weak elsewhere.
We want a truly zonal campaign.
What would you say to those who believe the Onyirimba movement is generating excitement but may not have the structure to win?
I would say: watch us. A campaign organisation is not built overnight. The structures are being put in place. Campaign offices are opening. Coordinators are working. Stakeholders are joining. Women and youth structures are becoming more active. And our grassroots engagement is expanding.
We are moving from aspiration to organisation. But we are not going to make the mistake of declaring victory before the election. We will work for victory.
What is your relationship with other political parties and their members who may sympathise with Onyirimba?
Our doors are open. This election should not be about demonising people because of the party they belong to. A person can belong to one political party and still believe that another candidate is better suited for a particular office.
Our message is; therefore, addressed to every citizen of Okigwe Zone, regardless of party, religion, community or political background.
We are saying: examine the candidates. Examine their capacity. Examine their character. Examine what they can bring to the table. Then make your choice.
And as a matter of fact we have several members of other parties who believe in our candidate and working with us.
Finally, Madam DG, what is your message to Ndi Okigwe?
My message is simple: this election is about your future. Do not allow anybody to make you believe that your vote does not matter. Ask questions. Demand accountability. Look beyond party colours. Look beyond temporary inducements. Look at capacity. Look at the character. Look at competence. Look at the future you want for Okigwe Zone, and your children.
Attorney Charles Onyirimba is offering himself to serve. Our job is to take that message to the people and earn their confidence.
As Director-General, I am ready for the assignment. The campaign organisation is ready. Our supporters are ready. And I believe Ndi Okigwe are ready for a new conversation about representation.
We will not deliver Attorney Charles Onyirimba to the senate by simply wishing it. We are not promising an effortless journey. We are promising to work. And we intend to work until the final vote is counted.
