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•Community rallies behind gov as APC, group unveils office, projects
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend poured into Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State to endorse Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
The rally organised by the Ifediche Political Family, attracted a crowd estimated at over 10,000, drawn from Awgu, Oji-River and Aninri local government areas, as party faithful marched through major streets before converging at the council headquarters.
The atmosphere was charged, with chants, banners and party insignia dominating the procession, signalling what organisers described as a growing grassroots mobilisation for the next general elections.
Top APC stakeholders in the state graced the event, including the State Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike; Chairman of Oji-River LGA, Chief Greg Anyaegbudike and founder of the Ifediche Political Family, Dr. Ezenwa Onyirimba.
Addressing the crowd, Dr. Chukwunweike stressed what he described as a long-standing political culture in Enugu, where sitting governors are traditionally supported to complete two terms. He pointed to past administrations to reinforce his argument.
“Governors in Enugu State have always been given the opportunity to complete two terms. From Chimaroke Nnamani to Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the people stood by them and we must sustain that tradition,” he said.
According to him, Governor Mbah, who assumed office in 2023 has shown enough commitment to merit similar backing, citing developments in key sectors.
“Governor Mbah deserves the same support to complete his second term ending in 2031, considering the strides his administration has made in education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure,” he added.
He commended the organisers, particularly Dr. Onyirimba, for what he described as effective grassroots mobilisation, urging other party leaders to replicate the model across wards and local government areas to deepen the party’s reach.
Chief Anyaegbudike applauded the Ifediche Political Family for strengthening party unity at the local level.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Ifediche Political Family. Their activities have helped to foster unity within the APC in Oji-River Local Government Area.”
He also urged members to remain politically active at all levels, saying, “Party members across Awgu, Oji-River and Aninri must stay engaged from the polling units to the wards and local government structures if we are to achieve our goals.”
Convener of the group and aspirant for the Awgu/Oji-River/Aninri Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Dr. Onyirimba, said the rally was part of a broader effort to galvanise support for the APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
“We organised this rally to galvanise support for the APC candidates in the 2027 elections, including Governor Mbah and President Tinubu,” he said.
Highlighting some of the group’s interventions, he pointed to initiatives aimed at impacting lives at the grassroots. “We have facilitated ICT training for 300 youths at the Bridge Institute in Enugu, rehabilitated boreholes, supported healthcare facilities in Oji-River and provided agricultural inputs to farmers.
“We will continue to address the needs of our people. Our efforts so far demonstrate our commitment to service, even before holding public office,” he said, adding that greater impact would be achieved if given the mandate.
The rally climaxed at the Oji-River Local Government Secretariat, where the Director-General of the Ifediche Political Family, Walter Madu, charged members to remain steadfast and loyal as preparations gather momentum for the 2027 general elections.
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He urged sustained commitment to both the group and the APC, stressing that unity and grassroots mobilisation would be key to future electoral success.
In a related development, support for Governor Mbah received a boost at the weekend as stakeholders in Ihe-Shikeaguma Ward, Enugu State, rallied behind his administration during the grand unveiling of a new All Progressives Congress (APC) office and the ‘Tomorrow is Here Movement’ office in the area.
The event, which also featured voters registration drive, the commissioning of a utility pitch at a local primary school and the formal welcoming of Dr. Madueke Ekoh into the APC, turned into a strong endorsement of Mbah’s governance style and long-term development agenda.
Speakers at the ceremony repeatedly highlighted the governor’s infrastructural vision, policy direction and commitment to sustainable development, even as they urged continued grassroots support for his administration.
Dr Ekoh, whose initiatives powered the unveiled projects, said his actions were driven by a genuine desire to uplift his people, while aligning with the broader developmental strides of the state government.
“All the things I am doing for my people are just a demonstration of the love I have for them. What you have is supposed to be used for the goodness of others, to help move the people forward. There is nothing else that informed my decision other than to see other people happy and to see joy in their faces.
“The problem with our society is that we have a lot of structural decay, but people are doing what they can. Sometimes, we may not see the efforts being made because they have not yielded the results we expect. Some may think that because the government has not come to their locality to build a road, then it is not doing well, but generally, that is not the case. The decay is so deep that it will take generations to fix.
“Peter Mbah is an astute individual with a genuine desire to see Enugu prosper. I have read about him and I have also met him. He wants to do things that will benefit society and he has laid structural frameworks that will sustain the state for a long time. Some of what he is doing may not even be visible now, but he is laying the infrastructural skeleton that will sustain life in the future.”
Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Benedet Okoli, conveyed Mbah’s appreciation to the community and commended Ekoh for complementing the government’s efforts.
“The message I have from the Governor is that Madueke should continue to do his best for his people. Even before joining our party, he has been doing a lot to support the government of Enugu State. The governor is happy with him.
“Mbah is a man of few words, but he delivers on his promises. He has told the people of Ihe that he is going to build a University of Education and he will do it because the project is already captured in the budget.”
National President of the Tomorrow Is Here Movement, Chief Tony Okonkwo, said the group’s visit was both to appreciate the community’s support for Mbah and to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of future elections.
“We came to Ihe to thank you on behalf of the APC and on behalf of the governor for the role you played in the last election that produced Peter Mbah. We are encouraged by the assurances from your people that Ihe will deliver 100 percent in 2027, and we are taking that message back.
“We are here because of a man of like mind. You have a global figure in Ihe, who saw the good work Mbah is doing and is replicating it here. He returned from abroad, met the governor and decided to join the APC so he can work in alignment with him.
“Mbah has changed the face of governance in Enugu. We are seeing it in every sector. In education, for the first time, we are seeing about 33 percent budget allocation. We are seeing smart green schools across all wards, not just in urban areas. Very soon, work will begin at the University of Education in Ihe. The bus terminal at Aki na Ukwa Junction will also commence, while work is ongoing at the Agwu Games Village.”
In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Enugu-Oke Ihe autonomous community, Igwe Martin Ibeziako, described Ekoh as a prime mover, whose efforts were already bringing the community closer to the government.
“Madueke is a prime mover. What you are seeing here today is his doing and we are happy. He told me he wants to move closer to the government and that is what he has done.
“As a community, we have been praying for a clear political direction and now we have it. He is bringing our people nearer to the government and we are solidly behind the administration. We promise the governor that by 2027, we will give him about 95 percent of our votes. If I say 100 percent, it may not be realistic because of possible void votes.”
