By Samson Ezea
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, several political events are expectedly, simultaneously, and quickly unfolding across the country and Enugu State in particular. Many social media commentators and political analysts are pontificating, commenting, and writing without being sure of the likely outcome of the events. This is because of dynamic and fluid nature of politics, especially in Nigeria, where nothing is cast in stone and it is not over until it is over.
While some have insinuated that Governor Mbah will defect to All Progressives Congress (APC), others including the APC Enugu State Chairman, Barr. Ugo Agballah has boasted and vowed that they will not admit Gov. Mbah into the party. This is despite the fact that there have been gale of defection and return to Enugu PDP by some who defected to Labour Party before the 2023 general elections.
In all these political developments and permutations in Enugu State ahead of 2027 election, Governor Mbah remains the cynosure and the man of the moment. He has made himself a movement and a brand through outstanding performance. In short, he has revolutionised political leadership and governance in Enugu State, and one needs no light to see it because it is too visible and impactful. He is indeed the anchorage of political relevance and presence in Enugu State and beyond ahead of the 2027 elections. This is the major reason for the gale of defection to PDP in Enugu State in recent times. People want to ride on his back to victory in 2027, having seen that by his performance, his reelection is certain and assured irrespective of the party platform.
Just as I had predicted in one of my articles few months after Governor Mbah assumed office in the face of several legal hurdles laid against him in courts by the opposition, Governor Mbah has even before the current gale of defection demystified the opposition in the state with sterling performance like never before in the state.
I saw this coming from Governor Mbah’s administration from inception. Governor Mbah came prepared and was very intentional, determined, and committed to the speedy and massive development of the state, than playing partisan politics that had done more harm to good governance than good. For the first time in the state, politics that has always taken precedence over good governance has been relegated to the background. This is considering the fact that the best form of politics by any leader is the provision of good governance and delivery of democracy dividends to the majority of the people, that will form bulk of the voters in the election.
So it was clear that from inception, that Gov. Mbah was clear headed on what should be immediately and urgently done to move the state forward in all sectors and ramifications, hence he hit the ground running in earnest and had remained focused and undettered in providing good governance and democracy dividends to the people of the state to the amazement and admiration of the people, who are now saying that he needs no campaign ahead of the 2027 elections to win his reelection.
One thing that is very clear even to the blind and deaf ahead of the 2027 general elections as it concerns politics and Governor Mbah is that the latter needs not to defect to any other political party to win his second term election, rather political parties should be or may be already all over him to join them, because of his outstanding value addition and quality in leadership and governance of the state. Meanwhile, it is already obvious that any political party that has Governor Mbah in its fold has a great asset and thriving brand that will drive its victory or success in the 2027 general elections.
Describing Governor Mbah as the poster boy of good governance in Nigeria is not flattery or praise singing, but an axiomatic fact, juxtaposing all parameters and indices of good governance with his sterling performance so far in office.
Meanwhile, without any scintilla of doubt, there is hardly any state governor who has comprehensively activated all the sectors of the state economy in the history of governance in Nigeria, like Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State. What is happening in Enugu State can be likened to the Eastern regional era under Dr Michael Okpara. While most state governors on assumption of office usually isolate few areas of interests, which in most cases they find difficult to implement to the letter, Governor Mbah came with a disruptive mindset and an unusual developmental agenda, which has left no sector of the state economy unattended.
From tourism, sports, infrastructure, transport, health, security, agriculture, ICT, education, rural development, justice, to human capital development, they are not only active and functional, they are complementary and interdependent of each other.
This has helped in turning the state into a construction site, opening up the state economy, and creating job opportunities.
Governor Mbah has, through dint of hard work, stellar performance, and focus in governance, earned himself all the accolades, support, and commendations in the state and beyond.
He is today the big fish in the bottom of the pot that every political party in Nigeria is searching for and will like to identify with. He has no hiding place, even across the party lines and the divide. Although political party is a special purpose vehicle in a democracy like ours. If not that it is statutory and constitutional to contest election on party platform, Governor Mbah needs no political party to win his second term. That is the truth by all standards and the political reality on ground.
Governor Mbah has not told anyone that he is leaving PDP even though the Southeast zonal caucus of PDP had threatened to leave the party if they failed to recognize Hon. Sunday Ude Okoye as the National Secretary of the party.
Assuming without conceding that Governor Mbah decides to leave PDP to APC today, no one in Enugu State APC can stop him from joining APC. In short, the national leadership of APC and the Presidency will welcome him to APC with red carpet without minding whose ox is gored. He will automatically become the party leader in the state and dictate who gets what, when, and how. That is the reality of party politics and governance in Nigeria.
All those who appeared to be suffering from selective amnesia and have been misyarning and making noise about stopping Governor Mbah from joining APC and not accepting him into APC fold will not only be disappointed, they will possibly be ditched, sacrificed and displaced for Governor Mbah to comfortably take the lead for the party in the state.
It is only a non performing governor that will be fighting or lobbying to join the ruling APC, with phantom hope that such a move will guarantee him a second term. That is not the case with Governor Mbah.
Governor Mbah has comfortably and diligently worked his way to his second term by warming and endearing himself to the majority of the people of the state through outstanding performance and unprecedented good governance. Whether on a PDP platform or any other party platform, it is an axiomatic and obvious fact that Governor Mbah’s second term is secured.
The overwhelming visible evidence and barrage of testimonials on Governor Mbah’s score card in office so far coupled with the massive defection from Labour Party to Enugu State PDP by Labour Party elected politicians in Enugu State are pointers and clear indication that Governor Mbah has no strong or virile opposition to contend with ahead of 2027 elections in the state.
Those who would have grandstand as opposition to Governor Mbah’s second term ambition had already joined him and his moving train in the state, and are comfortable with wherever he drives them to, having absolute confidence in him that he knows the way.
• Ezea writes from Independence Layout, Enugu State