Grand finale turns into celebration yesterday in Ohofia Oduma
Ohofia-Oduma did not merely host the grand finale of the Aninri Local Government Chairmanship Campaign yesterday. It hosted a homecoming. After traversing nine wards across Aninri, the campaign finally arrived at the home community of Hon. Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, and what greeted him was not the atmosphere of a candidate struggling to introduce himself to his people, but that of a son returning home to an overwhelming celebration of performance, service and community pride.
From ward to ward, the message had remained remarkably consistent: the Chairman should not worry about campaigning because his works had already spoken for him. And at Ohofia-Oduma, that message became a celebration.
The grand finale attracted an impressive gathering of political leaders, government officials, traditional authorities, community leaders, supporters and distinguished sons and daughters of Aninri.
Among the distinguished personalities present was Dr. Benjamin Obi Nwoye, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), whose energetic and commanding address added considerable colour to the occasion. Dr. Nwoye remarked on the extraordinary level of support witnessed in Aninri, noting that the reception was exceptional among the local governments he had visited, and expressed confidence in the trajectory of the Chairman’s political career beyond the local government level.
Also present was Hon. Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu Jnr., Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enugu State, whose presence further underscored the importance attached to the occasion. The gathering was equally honoured by Hon. Mrs. Mary Nwaru, Deputy Mayor, Aninri LGA, alongside several other distinguished stakeholders.
Hon. Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu, Member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, commended the developmental efforts of the Local Government Chairman and encouraged the people to support leadership that delivers. He further demonstrated his commitment to the development of Oduma by pledging ₦10 million towards the construction of the hospital project at Oduma.
Senator Osita Ngwu was represented by the former Chairman of Ezeagu local government area, Chukwudi Ani (Salty). He commended the work being done by the Chairman and expressed deep sympathy to the people affected by the devastating flooding in Mpu and Okpanku, assuring the people that the Senator would continue to pursue the matter at the appropriate federal level in search of a lasting solution.
Hon. Barr. Juliet Ibekaku Nwagwu, former senatorial candidate and former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Legal Matters, also paid glowing tribute to the Chairman. Speaking as a daughter with traditional ties to the community, she acknowledged the visible efforts of the administration, thanked the people for their confidence and support, and prayed for greater heights in the political journey of the Local Government Chairman.
The Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, also joined in commending the people of Aninri for their support for the Chairman and acknowledged the contributions of Rt. Hon. Magnus Nnemeka Edeh, Member representing Aninri Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
The roll call of distinguished Aninri personalities continued with Rt. Hon. Magnus Nnemeka Edeh, High Chief Okezie Nwanjoku, High Chief Njokuoti, Chief Sam (Omezuribe), Hon. Paul Ogbonna, Hon. Simone Nwanjoku (Senator), and several other political, traditional and community leaders who came to identify with the celebration.
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A particularly significant moment came when Hon. Afam Christian Okafor, Chairman of the APC in Aninri LGA, eulogized the Local Government Chairman for what he described as a strong representation of the party through good governance whose impact, in his words, is visible across the Local Government Area. He commended Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku for giving the APC a positive image through his administration and for translating the party’s presence into visible governance.
In another remarkable moment, Hon. Afam Christian Okafor introduced to the gathering Engr. Ugochukwu, Vice Chairman of the NDC in Aninri, who publicly hailed the leadership qualities of Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku. He stated that, having observed the Chairman’s leadership and developmental efforts, he saw no reason to work against him. Engr. Ugochukwu subsequently announced the dissolution of his political structure within the NDC in Aninri and its movement into the APC, declaring his alignment with the political structure supporting Prince Ugochukwu Nwanjoku.
His declaration became one of the defining political moments of the grand finale. But beneath the speeches, the glamour and the political personalities was one unmistakable message: ANINRI IS TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT.
The nine-ward campaign tour created a recurring narrative of communities pointing to projects, interventions and visible changes as evidence of what they believe the current administration has accomplished. And nowhere was that narrative more emotional than in Ohofia-Oduma, where the Chairman was received not merely as a political candidate, but as a son whose people publicly celebrated his achievements and his connection to home.
The campaign has travelled through all nine wards. The messages have been delivered. The endorsements, commendations and commitments have been made. The grand finale has now come to an end.
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Tomorrow, Saturday, September 26, 2026, the people of Aninri will have the opportunity to make their choice at the ballot. Whatever the outcome, one thing is already firmly written into the story of this campaign: For nine wards, the people did not merely hear about development, they spoke about what they had seen. And at Ohofia-Oduma, the final chapter of the campaign was written not as a routine political rally, but as a celebration of a son, a celebration of service, and a celebration of Aninri.
~ written b Martins Egbo