The lawmaker stressed that democracy thrives only where citizens are free to make their choices without fear or inducement.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The leader of Anambra State caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, has cautioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) against alleged attempts to intimidate or coerce voters in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.
Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency under the Labour Party (LP), described such conduct as undemocratic and urged the people of Ogbaru and the entire state to vote according to their conscience on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Awka, the lawmaker stressed that democracy thrives only where citizens are free to make their choices without fear or inducement.
“It’s a misconception that those who don’t support a particular government will be denied development benefits. When infrastructure such as roads, boreholes, or schools are built, it’s illogical to think that only supporters of the administration will use them,” Ogene said.
He lamented that despite Ogbaru’s contribution to Anambra’s oil revenue, the area has suffered long neglect by the state government. According to him, the sole connecting road to the constituency remains in deplorable condition, hampering farmers and traders who struggle to move goods to markets.
“In the case of Ogbaru, we have not been considered worthy of enjoying these acclaimed dividends of democracy, yet we are being blackmailed to think that, this time around, except we vote in a particular way, we would be further denied government patronage — an inalienable right of every citizen,” he said.
He, therefore, urged residents to rise above intimidation and exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.
“I urge every resident of Ogbaru, nay Anambra State, to go out on Saturday to fulfill a sacred obligation imposed on them by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: vote for a candidate of their choice, without any fear of intimidation, coercion, or inducement,” he stated.