Dr. Mabel Magbulu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Federal Constituency, says her campaign is focused on grassroots engagement, stakeholder mobilisation and building relationships across the three local government areas ahead of the House of Representatives election.
Magbulu stated this in an interview with Ndokwa Reporters, where she discussed her campaign strategy, the political mood across the constituency and her response to voters who believe the incumbent representative deserves another term.
The ADC candidate said her confidence in the contest was based on her professional record, network and what she described as growing acceptance across Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani.
She pointed to her experience of building a business from the ground up, saying the process had strengthened her resilience and capacity to manage challenges.
According to her, her entrepreneurial background had also developed her skills in negotiation, strategic networking, coalition-building and mobilising people around common objectives.
“Most importantly, the growing acceptance I am receiving across Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani tells me our people are ready for a fresh, competent and purposeful representative,” she said.
Magbulu, however, said she was not taking the election for granted, stressing that she was working to earn the support of constituents through sustained engagement.
“I am not taking victory for granted. I am earning it, community by community,” she told Ndokwa Reporters.
Assessing the political atmosphere across Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani, Magbulu described it as positive and increasingly receptive to what she characterised as change.
She said the level of grassroots engagement and response to her campaign had been encouraging, while acknowledging that political contests come with challenges.
“I do not underestimate the realities of a political contest,” she said.
Magbulu said she believed disciplined organisation, broad stakeholder engagement, a clear message and a united campaign team would be important in navigating the challenges of the election.
She said her campaign was focused on steadily building the network and relationships required to take her message to communities across the constituency.
On how she intends to consolidate support across the three local government areas, Magbulu said her approach was centred on listening to residents and maintaining direct engagement with communities.
“We are already doing it,” she said.
She explained that the campaign was engaging community leaders while creating platforms for youths, women and other stakeholders to participate.
According to her, the objective is to build a broad and inclusive movement based on trust, shared interests and a common vision for what she referred to as Ndokwa-Ukwuani.
She said the response from the three local government areas had been encouraging, adding that her campaign would continue to engage different groups as the election approaches.
Magbulu also addressed voters who believe the incumbent representative deserves another term based on his record in office.
She said she respected the right of voters to assess the incumbent’s performance but argued that such assessment should be based on results.
“I respect the right of every voter to assess the incumbent’s record, but leadership should ultimately be judged by results, not sentiment, tribe or relationships,” she said.
She identified electricity, roads and infrastructure, youth employment, economic empowerment, healthcare and constituency engagement as areas she believed voters should consider when assessing representation.
Magbulu said where gaps remained, constituents should be willing to demand better outcomes.
“Where the gaps remain, we must be willing to demand better,” she said.
She described her own candidacy as an alternative centred on what she called competence, capacity and a clear development agenda.
“As an entrepreneur, I believe performance matters; when results consistently fall short, change becomes necessary,” she said.
Magbulu said her campaign would continue to focus on direct engagement with communities rather than relying solely on political messaging.
She said her objective was to establish relationships with community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders while presenting her plans for electricity, employment, economic empowerment and human capital development.
The ADC candidate said the outcome of her campaign would ultimately be determined by voters across Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani.
Her candidacy is part of the contest for the Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
