The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has raised concerns over what it described as “secessionist” moves aimed at destabilising the second-term bid of Governor Peter Mbah.
The allegation was made on Monday by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in the state, Ben Nwoye, while receiving members of the state chapter of the Asiwaju Renewed Mandate South East (ARMSE), led by Josef Onoh, at his office in Enugu.
Nwoye clarified that the groups he referred to as “secessionists” were not advocating a breakaway from Nigeria but were agitating for the creation of a new state from Enugu and, in some cases, in combination with parts of other South-East states. He said these groups have been mobilising to field alternative candidates for the 2027 governorship election, either from the same senatorial district as Gov. Mbah or from outside the Enugu East Senatorial District, which currently benefits from the state’s rotational understanding.
According to Nwoye, such actions are intended to destabilise the state. He warned that while APC supports the creation of additional states, such efforts should not undermine the stability of the existing state. “You cannot come and destabilise the one that we are already into,” he cautioned.
Addressing the meeting, Onoh said attempts to truncate Gov. Mbah’s re-election would erode the tripod rotational agreement established by the founding fathers of Enugu State. He explained that although ARMSE was originally formed to promote the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, the group sought permission to also back Gov. Mbah in the interest of sustaining stability in Enugu.
Onoh argued that allowing Gov. Mbah to complete a second term would preserve the rotational arrangement and prevent political instability, noting that similar disruptions have negatively affected other states. He added that ARMSE’s visit was to pledge support for maintaining the existing understanding in the state.
He further traced the rotational agreement to 1999, crediting founding fathers such as Jim Nwobodo, late C.C. Onoh and Okwesilieze Nwodo for instituting a framework that has ensured uninterrupted two-term governorships in Enugu State.
The allegation was made on Monday by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in the state, Ben Nwoye, while receiving members of the state chapter of the Asiwaju Renewed Mandate South East (ARMSE), led by Josef Onoh, at his office in Enugu.
Nwoye clarified that the groups he referred to as “secessionists” were not advocating a breakaway from Nigeria but were agitating for the creation of a new state from Enugu and, in some cases, in combination with parts of other South-East states. He said these groups have been mobilising to field alternative candidates for the 2027 governorship election, either from the same senatorial district as Gov. Mbah or from outside the Enugu East Senatorial District, which currently benefits from the state’s rotational understanding.
According to Nwoye, such actions are intended to destabilise the state. He warned that while APC supports the creation of additional states, such efforts should not undermine the stability of the existing state. “You cannot come and destabilise the one that we are already into,” he cautioned.
Addressing the meeting, Onoh said attempts to truncate Gov. Mbah’s re-election would erode the tripod rotational agreement established by the founding fathers of Enugu State. He explained that although ARMSE was originally formed to promote the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, the group sought permission to also back Gov. Mbah in the interest of sustaining stability in Enugu.
Onoh argued that allowing Gov. Mbah to complete a second term would preserve the rotational arrangement and prevent political instability, noting that similar disruptions have negatively affected other states. He added that ARMSE’s visit was to pledge support for maintaining the existing understanding in the state.
He further traced the rotational agreement to 1999, crediting founding fathers such as Jim Nwobodo, late C.C. Onoh and Okwesilieze Nwodo for instituting a framework that has ensured uninterrupted two-term governorships in Enugu State.
