“Mbah Leads, We Follow; His Smart Projects Have Reached All 260 Wards” — Uchenna Okolo
The political temperature in Awgu rose several degrees on Thursday as the campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rolled into the local government area, drawing a massive gathering of party faithful, community leaders, women, youths and supporters in a show of force ahead of the September 26, 2026 local government elections.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
It was, by every appearance, a rally. But beneath the chants, flags and political pageantry was a more deliberate message: Awgu is throwing its weight behind Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and is preparing to deliver the APC at the polls.
The gathering formed part of the APC’s statewide campaign to secure the chairmanship and councillorship seats across Enugu State, with party leaders using the occasion to consolidate grassroots support and present the election as another opportunity for voters to assess the performance of the Mbah administration.
At Awgu, the argument from the party was straightforward: where government projects are visible, political support should follow.
The people who gathered at the rally pointed to interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure, empowerment, peace and security as evidence of what they described as the governor’s growing impact across the state.
The loudest political affirmation came from the incumbent Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area and APC chairmanship candidate, Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo, who welcomed the state party leadership and the campaign delegation while openly declaring his loyalty to Governor Mbah’s leadership.
“Governor Peter Mbah leads, and we follow,” Okolo said.
For the Awgu chairman, the governor’s strongest political capital is the footprint of development spread across the state.
“Today is not a day for much words, but I want to say one thing, and that is to thank in a special way the wonderful Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who is leading and we are following, who has come and brought great revolutionary changes in Enugu State.
“There is no one here who has not witnessed the vestiges of Mbah. Everyone here comes from a political ward, and there is no political ward in Enugu State that does not have projects ongoing or completed, starting from smart schools, health centres and more.
“The accolades go to Governor Peter Mbah. We thank him in a special way for making himself honestly available to lead us at this time.”
His words were met with applause from the crowd, many of whom waved party flags and joined in chants of solidarity.
Okolo subsequently gave the governor and the APC leadership an assurance that Awgu would not merely participate in the election but would seek to make a decisive statement at the ballot box.
He pledged that the people of Awgu would deliver a landslide victory for the APC’s chairmanship and councillorship candidates, while also reaffirming his support for Governor Mbah’s political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The significance of that pledge was not lost on the gathering.
In Nigerian politics, the rally ground is often where political loyalty is proclaimed, but the polling unit is where such declarations are ultimately tested. For the APC, therefore, the challenge is now to convert the enthusiasm witnessed in Awgu into votes when the electorate takes its place behind the ballot box.
Several party leaders and candidates took turns addressing the crowd, reinforcing the APC’s claim that Awgu remains a stronghold of the party.
Among them were the APC Enugu West Zonal Chairman, Hon. Chimobi Akajiugo; Hon. Ralph Onovo; Hon. Nze Chimobi David; Dr. Uche Anichukwu, APC candidate for Awgu North State Constituency; Hon. Charles Ezenta; Hon. Ginika Tor; Hon. Anthony Chukwudi Nwankwo, member representing Awgu North State Constituency and Deputy Majority Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly; Rt. Hon. Jane Eneh; Dr. Oby Aji, APC Zonal Women Leader, South-East; and Ben Nwoye, APC Vice Chairman, South.
The speakers described Okolo as a grassroots politician with a record of philanthropy, human-capital development and community interventions, particularly his “One Day, One Project” initiative.
They also commended the APC leadership for the emergence of Okolo and his deputy, Hon. Dr. Stanley Uchenna Ezediuto, as the party’s candidates for the election.
Then came the ritual that gives every campaign rally its most recognisable symbol.
The APC flag was presented to Okolo and his running mate, while the party’s councillorship candidates across the wards of Awgu also received their flags from the State Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, amid cheers and celebrations.
Chukwunweike thanked the people of Awgu for their support for the APC and the administration of Governor Mbah, describing their acceptance of the party’s candidates as an indication of confidence in the APC’s grassroots structure.
He urged party members to remain united and committed as the election approaches.
The rally attracted an array of political figures, Traditional Rulers and government officials, including Senator Osita Ngwu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Emeka Aneke; Hon. Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu, member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji-River Federal Constituency, represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Hon. Sir Ephraim Offia; Hon. Chima Atu, member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency; Hon. Comr. Obinta Juliet, SSA to the APC National Chairman on Youth Mobilisation; Hon. Ken Oforma, SSA to the Executive Governor of Enugu State; and Hon. Emeka Nwogbo, SSA to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, West, among others.
The governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, was represented at the rally by the APC State Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike.
For the APC faithful in Awgu, however, the message of the day required little interpretation.
They had come to demonstrate support for their party, to celebrate their candidates and, perhaps most importantly, to send a message to the wider political establishment that the battle for Awgu would not be conceded without a fight.
The crowd dispersed with the familiar political optimism that accompanies campaign rallies.
But the real verdict, as always, awaits the ballot.
For now, Awgu has made its declaration.
Mbah leads. They say they will follow. And the APC says it is ready to turn that following into a landslide at the polls.
#TomorrowIsHere
#OneDayOneProject #RefmediaGist
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.