Labour Party candidate for Owerri Federal Constituency, Dr Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has inaugurated Local Government Area and Ward Polling Agent Coordinators as part of efforts to strengthen the organisational structure of her campaign ahead of the election.
The coordinators, drawn from Imo Youth Ambassadors (IYA), were inaugurated under the Ada Owere Campaign Organisation during an event attended by leaders and members of the youth support group.
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu described the inauguration as a significant step towards building an effective and credible polling-agent network across Owerri Federal Constituency, comprising Owerri West, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal.
She charged the newly inaugurated coordinators to identify credible polling agents, ensure adequate coverage of polling units, maintain accurate records and establish effective communication with agents across the constituency.
The candidate stressed that every polling agent must complete the official Labour Party Polling Agent Registration Form before deployment, warning that verbal appointment or inclusion on an internal list would not be sufficient.
“No registration, no deployment,” she declared, urging the coordinators to ensure that no polling unit was left unattended because of failure to complete the required documentation.
A statement issued after the event said the coordinators were also reminded of the need for accountability, discipline and confidentiality in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu warned against deliberate sabotage, falsification of reports, manipulation of polling-agent records, leakage of confidential operational information and abandonment of responsibilities at critical moments.
She, however, emphasised that the campaign would operate strictly within the law, ruling out violence, intimidation, vote buying, electoral malpractice and other unlawful practices.
“Our objective is clear, but the means matter. We will pursue our campaign through a peaceful, lawful, disciplined and well-organised process,” she said.
The Labour Party candidate also acknowledged the contribution of John Maccido, whom she credited with introducing Imo Youth Ambassadors to the Ada Owere Campaign Organisation.
According to her, the introduction eventually led to a partnership that saw IYA become the first support group to endorse her candidacy.
She said the role played by Maccido in establishing the relationship deserved public recognition, describing him as “the bridge that brought IYA and the Ada Owere Campaign Organisation together.”
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu also commended the President of Imo Youth Ambassadors, Bishop Chibuike, for what she described as focused and purposeful leadership.
She said her interactions with Chibuike over the past few months had strengthened her confidence in his leadership abilities, adding that she believed he had the potential to attain greater heights.
The candidate further expressed appreciation to the entire IYA leadership and membership for their early support for her campaign.
She noted that while endorsement was important, electoral victory would require sustained organisation, commitment, vigilance, discipline and effective execution.
“An election is not won by endorsements alone. It requires organisation, commitment, vigilance, discipline and effective execution,” she said.
She urged the newly inaugurated coordinators to know their wards and polling units, understand their responsibilities, remain connected with their agents and report developments accurately through the established channels.
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu also stressed the importance of every ward and polling unit in the constituency, noting that political support must ultimately translate into properly cast and lawfully recorded votes.
She described the active participation of young people in the campaign as an example of meaningful youth engagement in democracy, saying their involvement went beyond cheering from the sidelines to taking responsibility for the electoral process.
The candidate said the inauguration was more than a ceremonial event, but another step towards building the organisational structure required to take the Ada Owere mandate across Owerri Federal Constituency.
She reiterated her campaign message of “For Me, For You, and For All,” anchored on experience, competence, credibility and compassion.
“The work has begun. Let us build the structure, register the agents, train them, monitor them, keep accurate records, report faithfully, remain vigilant and stay committed,” she said.
