The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship Candidate for Nkanu East Local Government Area, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, has received the traditional Ofo of Nkanu East and secured the backing of Presidents-General of various autonomous communities as grassroots consultations intensify ahead of the council election.
The traditional rulers of Nkanu East presented the revered Ofo to Ogbuekwe as a symbol of confidence, goodwill, prayers and the responsibility associated with public leadership.
Receiving the Ofo, Ogbuekwe expressed appreciation to the traditional rulers, describing the gesture as both an honour and a solemn reminder of the responsibility he would bear if elected.
He pledged to lead with integrity, humility and accountability, while respecting the traditional institutions, cultural values and collective interests of the people of Nkanu East.
Ogbuekwe also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the development agenda of Governor Peter Mbah, saying the local government should complement the state government’s efforts rather than operate in isolation.
He said that, if elected, his administration would work closely with traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders to translate the state’s development programmes into tangible benefits at the grassroots.
The APC candidate’s engagement with community leaders also continued at the ALGON Office, where Presidents-General of various autonomous communities met with him to discuss the challenges and development needs of their communities.
The community leaders expressed support for Ogbuekwe’s aspiration and pledged to work with him towards advancing the interests of the local government.
Speaking during the engagement, Ogbuekwe said effective grassroots leadership must be built around listening to the people, maintaining open communication and working with communities to solve their problems.
He urged community leaders to approach him directly whenever they have concerns, stressing that there should be no barriers between elected leaders and the people they represent.
He thanked the Presidents-General for their confidence and reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a close working relationship with traditional institutions and community leadership structures across Nkanu East.
The engagements come as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2026 local government election, with Ogbuekwe increasingly positioning his campaign around grassroots participation, responsible leadership, accountability and development.
The candidate described the presentation of the Ofo and the engagement with community leaders as a charge to serve, pledging to remain accessible and committed to the collective interest of the people.
The developments add to a series of grassroots engagements by Ogbuekwe as he seeks the mandate to lead Nkanu East, with his campaign stressing partnership, continuity, inclusion and translating government policies into meaningful impact at the local level.