The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State witnessed a carnival-like atmosphere on Thursday as party faithful across the 260 wards of the state turned out in large numbers to participate in the party’s governorship primary election, where Governor stood as the sole aspirant.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The exercise, which recorded impressive participation and peaceful conduct across the state, further underscored the governor’s growing acceptance within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At Owo Ward in Nkanu East Local Government Area, Governor Mbah was welcomed by thousands of enthusiastic supporters and party members who openly affirmed his candidature during the ward exercise supervised by the electoral panel comprising Prince Arinze Arum, Mrs. Ngozi Eni, and Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze.
When the panel formally asked party members if they endorsed Mbah as the APC governorship candidate, the crowd responded with a thunderous “Yes,” signaling overwhelming support for the governor’s second-term ambition.
Speaking during the exercise, the Ward Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Mbah, alongside the member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, described Governor Mbah’s re-election bid as non-negotiable, citing what they called his remarkable transformation of Enugu State within three years in office.
According to Hon. Nnaji, the governor’s developmental strides had made him one of the most talked-about performing governors in Nigeria.
“It is not enough to get power; what matters is how the power is used. Governor Peter Mbah has shown uncommon leadership and commitment to governance. Today, Enugu State has witnessed tremendous changes under his administration,” he stated.
Addressing party faithful, Governor Mbah described the APC primary process in Enugu State as a practical demonstration of internal democracy and grassroots participation.
He noted that the party had successfully conducted direct primaries for the 24 State Assembly constituencies without internal rancour, adding that most aspirants emerged through consensus and mutual understanding among stakeholders.
“It is interesting to note that in all the 24 State Constituencies, we did not witness fierce contests or divisions. The same spirit of unity has reflected in the Senate, House of Representatives, and now the governorship primary,” the governor said.
Mbah insisted that his emergence as the sole governorship aspirant was neither by coercion nor manipulation, but a reflection of the collective confidence party members had in his leadership.
“Our people are wise and they know what is good when they see it. What we are witnessing today is a product of unity, understanding, and shared commitment to the progress of our party and Enugu State,” he added.
The governor further stated that the peaceful and coordinated conduct of the APC primaries in the state had positioned the Enugu chapter of the party as a model for internal democracy and effective grassroots politics in Nigeria.
He urged party members to remain united and avoid internal divisions ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that unity remained the party’s greatest strength.
“Once divisions and internal crises begin, the support base of any political party starts diminishing even before the main election. That is why the unity we have sustained throughout these primaries is extremely important,” Mbah stated.
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee led by Hon. Danmalikin Hausa, which monitored the exercise across various locations in the state and is expected to officially announce the final results.
Political observers, however, believe the outcome is already clear, with Governor Peter Mbah widely expected to emerge as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Enugu State.