…Tells party faithful to campaign on performance, be unapologetically APC

…Says opposition shallow, has nothing to offer

…Nnamani, Nwobodo, Chime, Ugwuanyi, Nnaji, Arthur Eze, Madueke, Ogalla, Ezeilo make list

By Kayode Idowu

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah on Tuesday inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in the state, expressing confidence that the party would win all elections in 2027.

The campaign council comprises 51 directorates and is chaired by Mbah, with Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai; APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Ben Nwoye; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uchenna Ugwu; state APC Chairman Martin Chukwunweike; and Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, serving as vice chairmen.

The council also has an Advisory Council comprising former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo; former military governor of old Anambra State and former Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd.); former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji; former Minister of Information and 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State, Frank Nweke Jr.; businessman Arthur Eze; Senator Chuka Utazi; and former deputy governors Cecilia Ezeilo, Bishop Ralph Nwoye, Sunday Onyebuchi and Okechukwu Itanyi, among other prominent personalities.

Chief Charlie Mbah was appointed Director-General of the campaign organisation, while Dr Eric Oluedo will serve as Secretary-General.

Senators Osita Ngwu, Ikeje Asogwa and Kelvin Chukwu were appointed coordinators of the campaign council in Enugu West, Enugu North and Enugu East senatorial districts, respectively.

Speaking at the inauguration, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, Mbah said his administration had justified the mandate given to it in 2023.

He added that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms had helped stabilise macroeconomic indicators and increased the funds available to state governments to execute development projects.

The governor urged party faithful to campaign vigorously on the achievements of his administration and the Federal Government, describing the opposition as shallow and lacking credible alternatives to offer the electorate.

Mbah said he planned to visit all 68 development centres in the state and commission at least two projects in each of the 260 political wards.

He cited the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Momentum Index, which ranked Enugu as the fastest-improving state among the 33 states assessed, with a momentum score of +1.15.

The governor also noted that Enugu had improved its position in the ease of doing business ranking, moving from 36th out of 37 subnational entities in 2023 to sixth nationally in 2025, according to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

“So, you should be proud of Enugu. You should be unapologetically APC. I am really excited because we are going to go to all the 68 Development Centres. I will personally visit all the Development Centres. I will go to the markets with you.

“The people of Enugu cannot wait to see us. They are so excited. And as I go, I will also take time to go to every ward to commission both the Smart Green School and the Primary Healthcare Centre.

“As I go to every ward and Development Centre, I will commission all projects without exception, the Smart Green Schools and the Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres in all the wards where they are cutting the ribbon. And so, it is indeed my honour and privilege to formally inaugurate this APC Enugu State Campaign Council,” he stated.

Mbah said the achievements recorded by his administration would not have been possible without the economic reforms and support of the Tinubu administration, which he said had made more funds available to state governments.

“We must also campaign hard for the President because it also took those bold and courageous policies of his to achieve what we accomplished in the last three years. You can have all this vision and conviction, but if you do not back it up with money, you cannot do anything. Therefore, we also need to recognise and acknowledge that,” he stated.

The governor also highlighted major infrastructure projects undertaken by the Federal Government in the South-East, particularly Enugu State.

He argued that Tinubu had demonstrated goodwill towards the Igbo people through development projects and strategic appointments, despite receiving a relatively small share of the region’s votes in the 2023 presidential election.

Other speakers at the event included Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai; APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Ben Nwoye; Senator Osita Ngwu, who spoke on behalf of serving and aspiring National Assembly members; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh; state APC Chairman Martin Chukwunweike; Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Ngozi Enih; and former Nigerian ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Fidelia Njeze.

They urged party members to mobilise support for the APC, highlighting the achievements of the Mbah administration and the benefits of the Tinubu administration to Enugu State.

In his remarks, the campaign Director-General, Chief Charlie Mbah, thanked party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him and his team, promising to lead a formidable campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

“My commitment is to build an inclusive, organised, result-oriented and issues-based campaign that reaches every senatorial zone, local government area, ward, community, and polling unit across Enugu State,” he reassured.

Other Members of the Campaign Council

Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Dr Dan Shere and Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye were appointed deputy campaign directors-general for Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu West senatorial districts, respectively.

Barr. Steve Oruruo was appointed campaign spokesperson and Director of the Public Communication Committee, with Dr Austin Okolie as co-spokesperson and Dr Malachy Agbo as secretary.

Mazi Uche Anichukwu and Dan Nwomeh, both members of the governor’s media team, will head the Directorates of New Media and Strategic Communication, and Mainstream Media, respectively. Dr Collins Ogbu will serve as secretary of the former, while Dr Reuben Onyishi will serve as secretary of the latter.

Barr. Victor Udeh will lead the Administration Directorate, while Dr Ben Nwoye and Arc. Uche Nwatu will serve as director and co-director of the Fundraising Committee, respectively.

Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (rtd.), will chair the Security Directorate, with former Inspector-General of Police, Ogbono Onovo (rtd.), as secretary.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology will head the Directorate of Government Appointees Coordination (Federal and State), with Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as secretary. Former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, will head the Inter-Party Affairs Directorate.

APC State Woman Leader Esther Edeh will lead the Women Mobilisation Directorate, with APC South-East Woman Leader Oby Ajih as co-director and Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development Ngozi Enih as secretary.

Senator Chuka Utazi will head the Directorate of Parliamentary Mobilisation, with former Deputy Minority Leader Toby Okechukwu as secretary.

Senator Ben Collins Ndu will lead the Directorate of Contact and Mobilisation, with Barr. Peter Okonkwo as co-director and Lovelyn Obioma Nweze as secretary.

Barr. Victor Udeh will also serve as director of the Directorate of Election Planning and Monitoring, with the governor’s Political Adviser, Chief Frank Anioma, as secretary.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Ugochi Madueke will lead the Directorate of Welfare, with Barr. Amaka Alinta as secretary. Rita Mbah will head the Directorate of Event Management, with Ifeoma Azike as secretary.

Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs Charles Egumgbe will lead the Directorate of Monitoring, with former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly Edward Ubosi as secretary.

Engr. Uchenna Nwobodo will head the Directorate of Works and Venue, with Engr. Christian Enebe as secretary.

Hon. USA Igweshi has returned to his 2023 position as Director of the Directorate of Support Groups, with Dr Chiedozie Nwafor as secretary.

Nollywood actress Rachael Okonkwo, popularly known as Nkoli Nwa Nsukka, will head the Directorate of Creativity and Entertainment, with the General Manager of the Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency, Monday Diamond, heading the directorate’s secretariat.

The Town Unions Coordination Directorate will be headed by Chief Arinze Ogbodo, with Hon. Charles Chime in charge of the secretariat.