*Promises issue-based campaign, vows to protect every ballot
The Action Peoples Party (APP) senatorial candidate for Imo East, Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi, has challenged rival candidates to present their records and plans to voters, insisting that the 2027 election should be determined by competence, character and workable solutions rather than propaganda and political intimidation.
Amadi, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Cajetan Duke, made the call at a press conference held at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church, Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, to mark the commencement of the party’s open campaign.
He said the APP was prepared to take its campaign to every ward and community in Owerri Zone, with a message centred on the problems confronting residents, including bad roads, insecurity, unemployment, poor healthcare and the decline in the quality of public education.
According to the University of Warwick research fellow, his engagements with residents, traders, farmers, artisans and young people had shaped the priorities of his campaign.
“We are ready — not with empty slogans, but with ideas. Not with bags of rice at election time, but with a plan for all time,” Amadi said.
He said residents were asking for basic improvements that would make a tangible difference in their daily lives, including good roads, security, employment opportunities, functional healthcare and schools.
Amadi said representation in the National Assembly should go beyond speeches in Abuja and translate into concrete benefits for the communities represented.
He therefore invited his opponents to a public debate, saying voters should be allowed to interrogate the records and proposals of all candidates before making their choice.
“Let us tell the people what we have done, what we stand for and what we intend to do. Let us debate our roads, jobs, security, healthcare, education and the opportunities available to our young people,” he said.
The APP candidate also warned against any attempt to intimidate his supporters or disrupt the electoral process.
He said the party would resist harassment of campaign agents, disruption of rallies and any effort to prevent citizens from freely exercising their democratic rights.
“We will not run, we will not bow and we will not be silenced. ‘G gburugburu’ means everywhere — and everywhere in Owerri Zone, our people have the right to hear us, support us and make their choice without fear,” he declared.
Amadi said the campaign would also prioritise election monitoring, with trained agents deployed to polling units and collation centres to ensure that votes were properly recorded and followed through every stage of the process.
“The era of writing results in hotel rooms is over. Every ballot lawfully cast by the people of Imo East must count — nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
He warned those planning to manipulate the election against such an attempt, saying the APP would use lawful means to protect the mandate of its supporters.
“We will watch, we will record and we will follow every vote from the polling unit to the final declaration. Anyone dreaming of subverting the will of Ndi Imo East should bury that dream today. We will defend the mandate of our people lawfully, firmly and to the very end,” Amadi said.
He urged APP members and campaign volunteers to remain disciplined and peaceful, urging them to persuade voters through facts rather than violence or provocation.
Amadi also appealed directly to the electorate to assess him on the basis of his ideas, character and record.
“Judge me by my ideas, my character and my record. We did not come this far to be frightened out of history. Imo East has buried too many dreams under bad leadership; we will not bury our courage too,” he said.
He added that the APP was ready for the campaign and expressed confidence that voters across Imo East would make their choice freely at the polls.
