The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has promised to establish a monthly “Meet-Your-Governor” forum where residents would have direct access to government officials and an opportunity to present their grievances.

Anosike made the commitment in Umuahia when members of the Kelechi Anosike G’eme Karia Movement, one of his support groups, visited his campaign office to brief him on their activities.

The PDP candidate said his administration, if elected, would be built around accessibility, accountability and people-focused governance. He said residents should not have to depend on aides to determine whether their complaints or requests reach the governor.

“I can’t be the governor Abians cannot access. I will be very accessible. Many appoint special assistants who receive mail, read them and decide who should see the governor. That is very wrong. Nobody reads my mail for me. You read your mail yourself,” he said.

Anosike also linked the gap between some governments and their supporters to the exclusion of campaign stakeholders from governance after elections. He argued that bringing people who were not involved in the campaign into key positions could further distance an administration from the people.

“I will be accessible both to the pro-groups and the entire people of Abia State,” he added.

Explaining his proposed monthly forum, Anosike said it would provide a platform where residents could raise issues directly before the governor and other officials capable of resolving them.

“We will hold the Meet-Your-Governor Forum at least once a month. There are people who are crying daily because of injustice, with nobody to address their matter. Oppression and intimidation are going on daily, so that if any governor gets to hear it, he will solve it on the spot.

“If it is once a month, we will create that forum. We will go to Michael Okpara Auditorium or any big hall. The governor, his deputy, the police, DSS Director and all who will help to solve the problems will be at the high table and hear the people’s complaints.

“If you don’t attend to and solve the people’s problems, then what are you doing in government? Government is about the people,” he said.

The governorship hopeful also restated his intention to pursue what he described as a “welfarist” model of governance, with economic empowerment as one of its priorities.

“When I tell people I am a welfarist, that is not politics. That’s my makeup, that’s my nature,” Anosike said.

He disclosed plans for a microfinance bank in Aba which, he said, would offer interest-free loans to residents. He added that economic empowerment programmes under his administration would be extended to communities across Abia State.

“There is no form of economic empowerment for the people; it’s terrible. So any government that cannot provide for the people should leave governance alone. The nature of government we want to bring will get to every ward,” he said.

Anosike commended members of the movement for their commitment and sacrifices towards his campaign and expressed confidence that the PDP would win the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

He said his campaign was aimed at reclaiming Abia and implementing what he described as purposeful governance.

“You see this game we are doing, come February 6, we will be in Government House. We are determined to take our state back and do the right thing,” he said.

The PDP candidate also promised to provide the movement with a branded Sienna vehicle and office accommodation, while asking its members to expand their mobilisation efforts across all wards in the state.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Kelechi G’eme Karia Movement, Kelechi Nwosu, told Anosike that the group had established structures in all 17 local government areas, 184 wards and 4,006 polling units across Abia.

Nwosu said the movement was targeting more than 80,000 votes for Anosike and planning a one-million-man march across the state’s 17 LGAs, with the exercise expected to begin from Umuahia North.

He also requested a branded campaign vehicle, office accommodation and representation in the state campaign council.

The movement’s coordinator in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area, Azubuike Moses, similarly appealed for mobilisation support.

The group’s Woman Leader, Mrs Juliet Kalu, urged Anosike to remain committed to his governorship ambition and pledged to mobilise additional women to support the movement.