The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State on Wednesday officially flagged off its campaign for the 2027 general elections, with party leaders and stakeholders pledging to mobilise voters across the state for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.
The campaign flag off, which held at Nsukka Township Stadium, witnessed a large turnout of party faithful, political office holders, traditional and community leaders, as well as supporters from across the three senatorial districts.
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Speakers at the event described the mammoth crowd as a demonstration of the APC’s political strength in Enugu State, insisting that the party was determined to consolidate its presence and secure victory for all its candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Mbah highlighted his administration’s investments in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic development, revival of moribund assets and completion of abandoned projects.
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He urged the people to assess his government’s performance through its achievements and ongoing projects, noting that the opposition had not even presented any manifesto.
Reflecting on his journey to Nsukka ahead of the rally, Mbah said the ongoing dualisation of the Penoks–T-Junction – Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road had significantly reduced travel time and improved safety.
“I left the office a few minutes past 1pm. It took me two to three minutes to get to T-Junction from Penoks. And it just reminded me of how motorists could have spent so much time, sometimes up to 30 minutes or hours if we did not dualise that road.
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“From T-Junction all the way to Nsukka, I noticed that work was going on right left, green, what have you. The contractor assured me that a realistic commissioning date is before the end of this year.
“Another thing the road reminds me is that we have kissed empty Mondays goodbye. Once upon a time, we dreaded traveling on that road because of fear of attack are gone. Today, we have kissed it goodbye,” he stated.
According to him, the administration’s infrastructure programme is not merely about constructing roads, but also about reconnecting communities, expanding economic opportunities and promoting greater integration across the state.
He cited the 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Umualor-Ikem virgin dual carriageway, which connects to Obollo-Afor road as another intervention designed to improve connectivity, and now links communities in the northern part of the state, while also serving as a new gateway to the North Central part of the country.
On education, Mbah said the Smart Green Schools initiative was fundamentally designed to transform the quality of learning and prepare children for a productive future and modern economy.
He disclosed that the government had recruited more than additional 6,000 teachers, who were undergoing training at the state’s Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation, as part of the efforts to move education in the state away from the traditional emphasis on memorisation and repetition towards critical thinking, creativity, innovation and problem-solving.
In the healthcare sector, the governor said his administration was constructing Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, with each facility provided with healthcare personnel and accommodation, including a two-bedroom residential unit.
On economic development, Mbah listed the reopening and operations of the Presidential Hotel, International Conference Centre, United Farm Products Limited, Songhai Enugu Integrated Farm and Sunrise Rice Flour Mill, among other investments, as evidence of the state’s efforts to stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities.
He also described Enugu Air as more than an airline, saying it represented the state’s readiness to attract investment, tourism and business opportunities.
“Enugu Air represents more than an airline to us. It is our statement that we are open for business and we are open for tourism. We are open for people to come here and live.
“So, in a few weeks, Enugu Air will have a direct flight to London. Before the end of the first quarter next year, we will also have a flight to the United States and China,” he enthused.
The Governor, however, acknowledged that more work remained to be done, particularly in road infrastructure, reiterating his administration’s commitment to its 10,000-kilometre road construction target.
“We are not measured by our words; we are measured by our results. We don’t say things that we don’t deliver on. What we commit to, we deliver,” he said.
The governor also highlighted his administration’s efforts to clear inherited pension and gratuity liabilities, disclosing that the state had approved N32 billion and started paying gratuity arrears dating back to year 2000.
He also acknowledged the role of President Tinubu’s economic reforms in creating additional fiscal opportunities for state governments, which he said his administration had leveraged to invest in infrastructure, social services and employment generation.
The governor further commended the President for federal interventions in the South-East, particularly the establishment of the South East Development Commission, approval of regional gas pipeline projects, road infrastructure and appointments of indigenes of the zone into key positions.
He specifically referenced the appointment of an indigene of Nsukka as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, saying the development addressed a long-standing aspiration of the university’s host community.
Earlier, Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai said the forthcoming elections presented an opportunity for the people to sustain the development programmes of the current administration and accused the opposition of disinformation.
Top party members who graced the event include the Director-General of the Enugu APC Campaign Council, Chief Charlie Mbah; elder statesman and former Governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Okey Ogbodo; APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Ben Nwoye, who represented the party’s National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and the Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunwike.
Others include Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District; Senator Ikeje Asogwa of Enugu North Senatorial Zone; Minister of Innovation , Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh; Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia; member representing Nkanu West/Nkanu East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Nnolim Nnaji; Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency; South East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr Oby Ajih; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Uche Ugwu; and Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Jude Asogwa.
Meanwhile, with the official flag off, the Enugu State APC said it was set to commence a statewide campaign tour, taking its message to nooks and crannies of the state.
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