Follow Us on Google
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The atmosphere at the Nsukka Township Stadium on Saturday, May 2, 2026 was electric, charged with chants, music, and a sea of enthusiastic supporters who filled the venue to capacity.
]Many were already standing long before proceedings began, others crowding every available space just to be part of what has now been described by political watchers as one of the largest endorsement rallies in recent times in Enugu North Senatorial District.
Popularly known as Nsukka Zone, the district turned out in remarkable numbers to declare support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah, signalling a strong push for continuity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
From the six local government areas, Nsukka, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Udenu, Uzo Uwani, and Igbo Etiti, came a unified message: the current leadership at both federal and state levels has delivered, and deserves another term.
What stood out immediately was not just the sheer number of attendees, but the intensity of their support. Youth groups waved banners, women danced in coordinated attire, and community leaders stood shoulder to shoulder, many expressing openly that they were eager to see Mbah return as governor in 2027.
At the heart of the event was a symbolic presentation of a cheque of N102 million raised by stakeholders across the zone to support Governor Mbah’s re-election nomination form.
The gesture, according to the organisers, was not merely financial but a declaration of trust and satisfaction with Mbah’s leadership.
Speaker after speaker pointed to what they described as tangible achievements, particularly in infrastructure development and governance reforms, as justification for their endorsement.
The endorsement for President Tinubu was formally moved and seconded in a structured political process led by key figures in the zone. Former Senator Chukwuka Utazi presided over the motion, which was moved by Dennis Agbo and seconded by Mark Obetta.
Agbo, who represents Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, outlined several federal projects as evidence of Tinubu’s impact on the South East.
Among them were the ongoing reconstruction of the Oturkpo–Obollo Afor–9th Mile Enugu Expressway, the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway, and renewed work on the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.
He also referenced the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, the establishment of the South East Development Commission, and progress on the Port Harcourt–Enugu rail line.
According to him, these developments signal a shift in federal attention to the region.
One of the highlights of the rally was the reference to the appointment of Prof. Simon Ortunaya as Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, a development described as historic.
For many in Nsukka, the appointment marked the first time an indigene of the area would lead the institution since its establishment 65 years ago.
Other News
Governor Mbah, in his response, tied this achievement directly to the leadership of President Tinubu.
“Let me take you three years back. You told us you wanted your own as the Vice Chancellor of UNN. So, your endorsement of the President matters because he was the leader who broke this 65-year-old jinx. That is why January 2027 matters,” he declared.
Former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi also addressed the gathering, reinforcing the collective decision of the zone.
“What we have come here to do is to endorse President Tinubu amd Governor Peter Mbah. I want to first of all thank you all for the support you have been giving to the governor. Your presence here has already shown that Nsukka has endorsed Tinubu and Mbah for their second tenure.”
In a separate motion endorsing Governor Mbah, Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Ezenta Ezeani, emphasised performance over rhetoric.
He cited key projects, including the dualisation of the Enugu–Opi–Nsukka Road, upgrades at the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), and the rollout of Smart Green Schools and Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres.
“These are not promises. These are visible, measurable realities. Leadership is not judged just by intentions, but by outcomes. And when a leader delivers, continuity becomes not just desirable, but necessary. Interrupting it now would be like abandoning a harvest halfway through the season.”
Beyond politics, the rally also served as a platform for governance, with Governor Mbah flagging off multiple road projects across the zone.
Central among them is the 52.2km Nguru–Lejja–Aku–Akpakume Nze–Egede–Affa–Eke road, part of nearly 70 kilometres of road infrastructure being rolled out.
“There is no better enabler or key enabler than roads that will connect communities and connect people to opportunities. That is what we are doing. The stretch of this road is 52.2km, but if you then add the other roads like Amachara to Barracks, from Mechanic Village, and many others like that, we are doing about 70 kilometres,” Mbah stated.
Governor Mbah also addressed concerns surrounding the ongoing remodelling of the Ogige Market, a major commercial hub in Nsukka.
He acknowledged initial resistance but defended the decision as necessary for safety and long-term development.
“I know we were misunderstood when we undertook to remodel the Ogige Market. But imagine what it would have looked like if I transformed Ogbete or Holy Ghost with two modern terminals – the interstate terminal and the intrastate terminal – and I did nothing about Ogige Market. How could that have been interpreted?
“We saw Ogige Market as a keg of gunpowder. We were sitting on a keg of gunpowder. If we did not do anything and we had an emergency situation in that market, questions would have been asked if we had government in this state because there was no way we would have moved emergency interventions into the market.
“But you may already have noticed that we just started doing some shops there to bring back those people who were affected. And we are also going to give those directly affected seed capital to restart their trades.”
Looking ahead, the governor unveiled plans for a 135.5km rail project designed to integrate key parts of Enugu State.
“Let me tell you what to expect in the next four years. We are going to move Nsukka from being just a large district on the map to the engine of the new enormous economy.
“We have concluded the feasibility studies, and we are soon going to start the construction of a 135.5km rail line. It is going to integrate the state’s economy and ease the movement of goods and services.
“It will cover several parts of Enugu, including Ugwuoba, 9th Mile, Enugu City, Nsukka, and Obollo Afor,” he said.
Governor Mbah did not shy away from addressing political opposition, using the opportunity to challenge what he described as contradictory narratives.
“Someone said to me, ‘you are only going to be a one-term governor.’ Then the same person turns around and tells Ndi Enugu, ‘give me a chance, I am only going to serve one term.’
“Is it not counter-intuitive? Can you diminish one-term government and then come to lie to the people to give you one term?” he queried.
He added that: “Enugu is at the brink of a historic turning point. Enugu’s profile is rising. Enugu is that model of good governance in the country today. And, please, do not let anyone steal what trust has built.”
“You know the typical thing is that when we made promises, we were almost always scoffed at by sceptics. We were told this was overambitious, this is not possible. But I think we have proven sceptics wrong. We have shown that impossibility does not exist in our dictionary. Where there is a will, there is a way.”
