{"id":10608,"date":"2026-09-21T06:27:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T06:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/?p=10608"},"modified":"2026-09-21T07:08:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:08:44","slug":"across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/","title":{"rendered":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10610\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024-1-300x167.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024-1-1024x569.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024-1-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024-1.jpg 1032w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">By Anthony<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Kindly share:<\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By Anthony<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kindly share:<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The political temperature in Okigwe Zone appears to be changing, as Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba\u2019s expanding grassroots support base continues to draw people across party lines.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest expression of support came during a visit to Ndi Ezi Enyi, a community-based group. According to its chairman, Chief Akarugo Amadi, the group deliberately distinguishes itself from a political party. Its membership cuts across different political parties, but its members were united by what they described as a shared desire for better representation and a new direction for Okigwe Zone.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each clan within the group reportedly brought 10 representatives to the gathering, creating a broad platform for interaction with the Onyirimba campaign team.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introducing the delegation, the Chief Strategic Officer of the campaign, Chief Ferdinand Ogor, explained the purpose of the visit and urged members of the group to support Onyirimba\u2019s senatorial aspiration. He stressed that the campaign was about taking a message of hope and a new development agenda directly to the people.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Director-General of the campaign, Mrs. Favour Nwelue, brought the gathering to its feet with a passionate declaration that the Senate seat is not the personal property of any candidate.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe Senate is not Onyirimba; it is Okigwe,\u201d she declared, stressing that the ultimate question should be who can represent the interests of the entire zone when difficult matters arise.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to her, when Okigwe needs someone to stand up and fight for its interests, \u201clook for who will go, and who has the capacity.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She urged the people to look around their communities and honestly assess whether the present condition represents what they desire. She argued that Okigwe must be redefined through active participation, insisting that political change cannot happen without citizens using their Permanent Voter Cards.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10612\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0021-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0021-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0021-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0021-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0021.jpg 1032w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She called on the people to come out en masse, vote, insist that their votes count and refuse to be intimidated.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nwelue also warned against vote-buying, describing it as one of the factors contributing to the zone\u2019s political and developmental difficulties.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDo not sell your conscience,\u201d she urged. \u201cDo not eat pittance now and suffer for four years.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She described Onyirimba as an Okigwe son with the legal knowledge, experience and courage required to make a difference, declaring that the time had come for the zone to demonstrate that it had people capable of representing it effectively.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkigwe has been messed up, but Okigwe has a son who can make a difference,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the ADP senatorial candidate, the encounter was not simply another political gathering. It was an opportunity to challenge what he described as a dangerous culture of resignation.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe have come to spread a message of hope,\u201d he told the gathering.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He acknowledged the hardship confronting Nigerians and the sense of helplessness that has caused many people to accept poor conditions as inevitable. But, he argued, resignation to fate should not become the permanent condition of a people.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of saying, \u201cthat is the way it is,\u201d he urged the people to begin saying, \u201cit can be better.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba explained that the Senate is the highest legislative chamber of the country and that lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that the interests of their constituents are reflected in national legislation, appropriations and government programmes.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He challenged the people to ask questions whenever the benefits due to their communities are not forthcoming.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat does a senator do?\u201d he asked rhetorically, before explaining that beyond lawmaking, senators participate in the appropriation process and can advocate for projects, programmes and allocations that address the needs of their constituents.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For him, representation must therefore go beyond occupying a seat in Abuja.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10611\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0017-155x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"155\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0017-155x300.jpg 155w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0017-529x1024.jpg 529w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0017.jpg 558w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 155px) 100vw, 155px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He lamented that despite the educational and professional strength of Okigwe Zone, the area has continued to struggle with development challenges.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe are educated and enlightened. But with all that knowledge, what have we done with it?\u201d he asked. \u201cOrlu and Owerri have developed, and we cannot continue to lag behind in a state where we have the largest number of educated people. Never again!\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said the time had come for Okigwe Zone to \u201cshowcase our first eleven,\u201d using the language of football to argue that the zone must identify and support people with the competence, experience, character and capacity to serve.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo far, we have been represented by individuals of interest, not individuals who constitute the first eleven of Okigwe Zone,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, the destiny of Okigwe Zone must be put in our hands. We must handle our destiny by ourselves.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe are now saying: enough is enough,\u201d he declared, insisting that the people must assert their right to choose their representatives rather than have political choices imposed upon them or be looked down upon.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI have come so that Okigwe Zone would not be shortchanged again,\u201d he said. \u201cI want you to be proud to see your senator talking on television and representing you with confidence, knowledge and dignity.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba said effective public representation required more than academic intelligence.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou must have the two elements of being smart, in the classroom and in the street, in this competitive world,\u201d he said, adding that being smart alone was not enough to survive.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere are many professionals who are smart, but&#8230;\u201d he said, stressing the need for professional knowledge to be matched with practical understanding, empathy and service.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He drew from his legal training to make the point.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI am trained in the art of law writing, law interpretation and law application,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can be a good lawyer in the courtroom but not be a good public servant. You can be a good lawyer and earn money, but all the money you are making may be for yourself and your family.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For him, knowledge of the law must be accompanied by empathy.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen you know the law, when you apply the law, you must add empathy to it,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a legislator, you must know how to write laws, interpret them and apply them, but you must also have empathy and relate to the people and the society around the zone.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He argued that a representative must know what is happening in each community to represent the people effectively.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou must know what is happening in each community to be able to represent them effectively. You do that through regular constituency interface, including town hall meetings. Sadly, that has not been the case in Okigwe.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba therefore called for what he described as a reinvention of government.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLet us reinvent government. Let us use the knowledge we have. Try Charles Onyirimba and see what the result will be.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The candidate said his aspiration was not driven by a desire for political status or access to Abuja privileges. Rather, he described himself as someone seeking to become a \u201cchief servant\u201d of Okigwe Zone, with the responsibility of fighting for what belongs to the people and ensuring that their interests are protected and preserved.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI am a seasoned lawyer in America, with all the comforts of life. I have willingly sacrificed all that to serve my people,\u201d he said. \u201cI have come home not to make a name or simply to be called a senator, but to be the chief servant of Okigwe Zone, to ensure that whatever Okigwe is entitled to is gotten for them, protected for them and preserved for them.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said he was not seeking the office for financial gain.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t come for your money. There is no amount of money that can equate the comfort that I already have and enjoy in America,\u201d he said. \u201cI have left all that to enter the jungle called home, to make life more meaningful for my people.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He invoked the familiar saying, \u201cEast or West, home is the best,\u201d arguing that Nigerians in the Diaspora should not merely enjoy the comfort of foreign countries and return home only for burial.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe cannot make Nigeria a burial ground for overseas people,\u201d he said. \u201cThey stay there and enjoy all the comfort only to die and be brought home for burial. Nigeria is not a burial ground. That is why we must make it better.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to him, the responsibility of the people is to transform their communities and make them productive and economically viable.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt is our duty to convert our land into a productive and economically viable entity that Peter Obi talks about all the time,\u201d he said. \u201cI am here to sacrifice my time and energy for your own good.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba also drew a distinction between his motivation for seeking office and what he described as the economic considerations that drive some political aspirants.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMany of those running for office are looking for an economic lifeline. I\u2019m not looking for viability,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He noted that he has eight brothers, all living in America, and said even people at home had questioned his decision to embark on the political journey.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cCall your brothers in America and just mention my name. They will tell you that my life is a life of service,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He proceeded to recount a long list of his activities and leadership roles in the United States and within Nigerian and Igbo communities in the Diaspora.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI founded and appointed the first Mbano, Imo State National Assembly in the USA,\u201d he said. \u201cI was a former president of the Igbo community in Georgia. I was a former president of Imo State Congress of America. I was a former president of the Nigerian-American Bar Association.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He added: \u201cIf I can speak for Nigerian lawyers in America, I believe I can speak for Okigwe Zone.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba also recalled his voluntary service as Honorary Consul-General for Nigeria in Atlanta for three years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I could do that for Nigeria, I can do much more for Okigwe Zone,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10620\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260921-WA0005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260921-WA0005-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260921-WA0005-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260921-WA0005-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260921-WA0005.jpg 1032w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He further recalled his role as chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee in 1996, saying his involvement contributed to Nigeria securing gold.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I could serve as the chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee in 1996, where I helped Nigeria secure gold, I can do it for Okigwe Zone,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turning to Nigeria\u2019s return to democratic rule in 1999, Onyirimba said he brought a team from the United States and organised training for elected officials on the processes and procedures of democratic governance.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, all the people elected then, I brought a team from the United States and organised training for them on the processes and procedures of a democratic process,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He disclosed that elected officers in Imo State, from the House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and Senate, attended the lectures on the rudiments of democracy, except Arthur Nzeribe.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I could do this, I would do similarly for Okigwe Zone,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba also recalled his relationships with prominent Nigerian statesmen, saying he could call General Yakubu Gowon and have him respond to his call in Atlanta and come to speak to the people.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI could call Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and he would answer my call in Atlanta and come to speak to our people,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI could call Chief Sam Mbakwe, and he would answer my call in Atlanta and come to speak to our people.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also recalled his role as moderator during the two presidential election campaigns of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo whenever Obasanjo visited.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThese are verifiable,\u201d Onyirimba said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10615\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-300x136.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-1536x696.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260920_150403-2048x928.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He maintained that these experiences were acquired when he had no political interest in Okigwe Zone and argued that they demonstrated a longstanding commitment to leadership, community organisation, diplomacy, law and public service.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf I did all these when I had no political interest, you can imagine what I could do when I represent the good people of Okigwe Zone,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also recalled his previous political contests, saying he had won elections twice but was denied victory through political manoeuvring. According to him, however, he chose not to respond with bitterness.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He said one of the beneficiaries of his stolen victory later confessed and prayed for him, saying that his own time would come and that nobody would be able to stop it.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba told the gathering that he believes that time has now arrived.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTry Charles Onyirimba and see the difference,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He promised that, if elected, his priorities would include economic clusters for young people, microeconomic projects capable of transforming livelihoods and programmes designed to restore confidence among the youths.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI want to be their destiny helper,\u201d he declared.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also argued that after parents have spent years educating and supporting their children, the next generation should become capable of taking care of those who raised them.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His message was anchored on the belief that professional knowledge must ultimately be translated into practical service.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA lawyer must not only know the law,\u201d he said. \u201cIn substance, he must understand the people, empathise with them and use his knowledge to solve their problems.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyirimba therefore called for constant interaction between representatives and constituents, questioning whether elected representatives had sufficiently engaged ordinary people through town-hall meetings and direct consultations.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLet us reinvent government,\u201d he urged. \u201cLet us use our knowledge for the good of the people.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The gathering also featured inspirational songs, adding an emotional and communal dimension to the encounter.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The message from the Onyirimba camp was clear: political participation must ultimately be about the people and their future, rather than party labels alone.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that message appeared to resonate beyond the gathering.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later that evening, another group, also cutting across political party lines and several wards in the zone, arrived at his house to declare its support for Onyirimba\u2019s senatorial aspiration.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The development has added another layer to a campaign that has been described as a growing grassroots movement.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From one community to another, from party members to people who say they are motivated primarily by the future of Okigwe Zone, Onyirimba\u2019s campaign is increasingly presenting its support base as a coalition that transcends conventional party boundaries.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10617\" src=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0019-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0019-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0019.jpg 573w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But one thing is becoming increasingly visible: the political conversation around Okigwe Zone is widening, and Attorney Charles Onyirimba is placing himself firmly at the centre of that conversation.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With each engagement, the campaign argues, the coast is becoming clearer and the call for a new development conversation in Okigwe is becoming louder.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final decision, however, remains with the people of Okigwe Zone, whose votes will ultimately determine who represents them in the Senate. However, Onyirimba believes he has an edge because the people of Okigwe have always been his backbone and godfathers, as espoused in his Okigwe Peoples Party philosophy. The ADP candidate says he remains unshaken that he has an edge as Okigwe people have always been his backbone and godfathers, which he declared in his Okigwe Peoples Party philosophy.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Anthony Kindly share: By Anthony Kindly share: The political temperature in Okigwe Zone appears to be changing, as Attorney&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1],"tags":[1461],"class_list":["post-10608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-uncategorized","tag-attorney-charles-onyirimba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Anthony Kindly share: By Anthony Kindly share: The political temperature in Okigwe Zone appears to be changing, as Attorney&hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Panorama News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/panoramanewsng\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1032\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"774\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/193c6b5ed75edb6cc8b07827dd05f83d\"},\"headline\":\"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\"},\"wordCount\":2482,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Attorney Charles Onyirimba\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\",\"name\":\"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg\",\"width\":1032,\"height\":774},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/\",\"name\":\"Panorama News\",\"description\":\"We present all perspectives of news as they break.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Panorama News\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/panorama-news-logo1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/panorama-news-logo1.jpg\",\"width\":1065,\"height\":456,\"caption\":\"Panorama News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/panoramanewsng\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/193c6b5ed75edb6cc8b07827dd05f83d\",\"name\":\"Admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86f61a39fb780839ddf23cd4f472ef9e5bf4a2b93bfff200ffeca670341bd4e7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86f61a39fb780839ddf23cd4f472ef9e5bf4a2b93bfff200ffeca670341bd4e7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News","og_description":"By Anthony Kindly share: By Anthony Kindly share: The political temperature in Okigwe Zone appears to be changing, as Attorney&hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/","og_site_name":"Panorama News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/panoramanewsng","article_published_time":"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1032,"height":774,"url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Admin","Est. reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/"},"author":{"name":"Admin","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/193c6b5ed75edb6cc8b07827dd05f83d"},"headline":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands","datePublished":"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/"},"wordCount":2482,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg","keywords":["Attorney Charles Onyirimba"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/","url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/","name":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands - Panorama News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg","datePublished":"2026-09-21T06:27:21+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-21T07:08:44+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG-20260920-WA0024.jpg","width":1032,"height":774},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/09\/21\/across-party-lines-ndi-ezi-enyi-backs-onyirimba-as-support-base-expands\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Across party lines, Ndi Ezi Enyi backs Onyirimba as support base expands"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#website","url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/","name":"Panorama News","description":"We present all perspectives of news as they break.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#organization","name":"Panorama News","url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/panorama-news-logo1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/panorama-news-logo1.jpg","width":1065,"height":456,"caption":"Panorama News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/panoramanewsng"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/193c6b5ed75edb6cc8b07827dd05f83d","name":"Admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86f61a39fb780839ddf23cd4f472ef9e5bf4a2b93bfff200ffeca670341bd4e7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86f61a39fb780839ddf23cd4f472ef9e5bf4a2b93bfff200ffeca670341bd4e7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng"],"url":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10608"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10623,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10608\/revisions\/10623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/panoramanews.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}