2027: Asonye Mobilises Imo Wu Otu Women in Prayer for Obi, NDC Candidates
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Rita Onuoha
OWERRI, IMO STATE — The Director-General of the Imo Wu Otu Women Wing, Imo State, Hon. (Mrs.) Florence Asonye, popularly known as the “Iron Lady,” has mobilised women leaders across the three geopolitical zones of the state for prayers ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring the organisation's commitment to the electoral success of Peter Obi and candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Asonye made the call during a strategic interactive and leadership prayer meeting held on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Vennesa Hotel, opposite Market Square, where delegates from the Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri zones gathered to deliberate on the organisation's mobilisation strategy ahead of the elections.
The meeting was held under the theme, “Imo Wu Otu Women Stand With NDC Candidates for 2027 Electoral Victories,” and brought together key women leaders, including the Orlu Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Edith Okeke; Okigwe Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Ofoegbu Akarachi; and Owerri Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Tina Opara.
The gathering focused on prayers for the candidates, grassroots mobilisation, polling-unit canvassing and strategies to secure votes for the NDC during the 2027 elections.
Addressing the delegates, Asonye thanked the women leaders for their commitment to mobilising support for the NDC and promoting what she described as the core values of Imo Wu Otu, particularly good governance, development and unity in Imo State.
She also commended the leadership of the NDC in Imo State, led by former Imo State Governor, Hon. Chief Achike Udenwa, as well as Chief Martin Agbaso, Hon. ThankGod Ezeani, Hon. Mayor Eze, Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha and other federal and state candidates of the party.
Asonye recognised the efforts of the zonal women leaders in voter mobilisation, particularly their contribution to ensuring that members across the 27 local government areas and 305 wards of Imo State obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are prepared to participate in the elections.
She said the prayer meeting was intended to seek God's protection, provision and victory for the party's candidates while strengthening the organisation's grassroots mobilisation structures.
“This election is not going to be business as usual. We are going to match the ruling party number to number, strength to strength, to ensure that we secure our votes and get all our candidates to win the elections,” Asonye said.
She added: “Let me start by thanking all of you, Imo Wu Otu leaders, especially our zonal women leaders. Our resolutions are simple. His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi is our party. NDC candidates are our projects. And we must mobilise, vote and secure our votes until results are declared.”
According to her, the organisation would continue to work across the different zones to ensure that its members are adequately prepared for the elections.
“Today, we set it aside to pray for all NDC national and state candidates for the 2027 elections, zone by zone. The essence of the prayers is for God's protection, provision and victory,” she said.
Asonye said Imo State needed leaders who would prioritise development, security, employment and good governance, naming Hon. Mayor Eze for Imo West, Hon. Uche Onyeaguocha for Imo East and Mr. Emesgwa for Imo North, alongside candidates contesting the 10 federal and 27 state constituency seats.
She described the women who attended the meeting as politically experienced and grassroots-oriented, insisting that they understood the demands of political mobilisation and were prepared to work for the success of their preferred candidates.
“The people you are seeing here are politically grounded. They are not push-and-start women, but women who are politically informed. In this election, Mr. Peter Obi and all NDC candidates are our priority to deliver, and we must do that because God is with Imo Wu Otu women,” she said.
Asonye further disclosed that the prayer session was not limited to individual candidates but also focused on the state and the country, as well as NDC candidates contesting federal and state positions in the 2027 elections.
“We are here to pray for Imo State, Nigeria, all NDC federal and state election candidates, and our incoming governor, Chief Martin Agbaso (Uchudo Owerri),” she concluded.
The Owerri Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Tina Opara, commended Asonye for what she described as her leadership dexterity, focus and determination to contribute to a better Imo State and Nigeria through the political movement.
Opara said the Owerri zone remained committed to supporting the Director-General's mobilisation efforts and expressed confidence that sustained mobilisation and prayers would contribute to the group's desired electoral outcome.
She further encouraged mothers and women across the zone to intensify grassroots mobilisation, stressing that members of Imo Wu Otu Women in Owerri Zone were already actively preparing for the 2027 elections.
The Okigwe Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Ofoegbu Akarachi, emphasised the need to accelerate activities around polling-unit canvassing and members collation, describing the process as important to voter turnout and effective election-day mobilisation.
She also commended Asonye for her efforts in building and expanding the Imo Wu Otu political structure, noting that the organisation had gained significant prominence in the state over the years.
Speaking at the meeting, the Orlu Zonal Woman Leader, Hon. (Mrs.) Edith Okeke, raised concerns over what she described as the relegation of local council governance in the state.
Okeke linked the lack of creativity, employment opportunities and effective grassroots governance to growing insecurity, youth involvement in hard drugs and other social problems confronting communities.
She recalled a period when local government councils advertised employment opportunities for graduates and other qualified residents, saying such opportunities had become increasingly difficult to find.
“When we were schooling in those days, and even as a former LGA staff member, councils used to advertise job opportunities. But regrettably, such developments are no longer obtainable in this state. Where are the jobs in the face of jumbo allocations?” Okeke asked.
She added: “A graduate who finishes school and gets a job may have fewer options for engaging in crime.”
The meeting was also attended by Hon. Sir. Emeka Ezeh, KSM, the NDC House of Assembly candidate for Orsu State Constituency, who stopped by to identify with the women and their leadership.
Ezeh commended Asonye and the leadership of Imo Wu Otu for sustaining the organisation's political structure and described the movement as an important grassroots platform in Imo State.
He also appreciated the organisation's leadership for what he described as its contribution to political mobilisation and what he termed a political renaissance in Orlu and Imo State generally.
“Today, I am here to appreciate the Imo Wu Otu Organisation for keeping faith with posterity and endorsing NDC and all the candidates as the party to work with. For me, this is a great sacrifice which I cannot take for granted,” Ezeh said.
The Orsu candidate also described Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as leaders capable of providing what he characterised as good governance, development, security, employment, national unity and a renewed sense of pride for Nigerians.
Ezeh urged members of Imo Wu Otu and other supporters of the NDC to intensify their grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The meeting ended with a zone-by-zone prayer session for the federal and state candidates of the NDC, with the participants praying for divine protection, provision, electoral victory and a peaceful election process.
The organisers said the mobilisation activities would continue across the state's 27 local government areas and 305 wards as the 2027 elections draw closer.
