ABUJA — Denge Josef Onoh, former South-East spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, has criticised former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, over his recent stance on zoning and his pledge to serve only one term if elected governor in 2027.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Onoh described Nnaji’s sudden support for governorship zoning and his one-term promise as inconsistent and lacking credibility. He warned that such a position could disrupt the long-standing rotational arrangement that has helped maintain political balance in Enugu State since 1999.
Onoh questioned Nnaji’s commitment to zoning, noting that he has not supported the completion of the current tenure of Enugu East Senatorial District under Governor Peter Mbah.
“He who cannot support the completion of the current zonal tenure cannot be trusted to honour a single-term promise,” Onoh said, adding that political ambition could easily override such pledges.
He emphasised that allowing Governor Mbah to complete two terms would preserve the zoning structure and enable Enugu West Senatorial Zone to produce the next governor in 2031.
Onoh warned that Nnaji’s ambition could create political tension by positioning two candidates from Enugu East for second-term bids in 2031, potentially sidelining Enugu West.
Reinforcing his criticism, Onoh described Nnaji as a “calm and nice man,” but argued that such traits do not necessarily translate into effective leadership.
He concluded that continuity, adherence to zoning, and proven performance should guide the state’s political direction ahead of 2027.
