Politics
Enugu Guber: Mbah’s Performance Top-Notch, Best for Securing Our Children’s Future — Odo
Former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Barrister Eugene Odoh, has praised Governor Peter Mbah’s performance, describing it as exceptional and focused on long-term development.
In this interview, Odo speaks on Mbah’s achievements, his defection to the APC, the party’s growing strength in Enugu State, and concerns about internal divisions and opposition politics ahead of 2027.
Q: What is your assessment of Governor Peter Mbah’s performance so far?
Odo: The governor has done very well and should be trusted. Personally, I do not believe so much in political party sentiment; I focus more on individuals who operate within the party. If a criminal emerges from even the best party, it does not make him less of a criminal.
We believe the governor has performed remarkably well. Since the creation of Enugu State—and even across the South-East—no administration can boast of investing up to N1.5 billion in each ward. The smart school initiative is revolutionary. Each school, with its equipment, is valued at about N1.1 billion, while the Type-2 hospitals cost not less than N400 million each.
This is what we call even development. It will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, which is a major cause of crisis in society. In the past, children from different backgrounds attended the same schools without discrimination. Today, public schools are stigmatized, and that gap must be bridged.
Most of the smart schools are already over 80 percent completed. What we are seeing is a paradigm shift—from politics of appeasement to developmental politics. People should be able to point to tangible projects in their wards.
What the governor has done is top-notch and unarguably the best that can secure the future of our children. We cannot continue to widen inequality; it will lead us nowhere.
Q: With Governor Mbah joining the APC, how would you assess the party’s strength in Enugu State today?
Odo: The governor’s defection from PDP to APC is in line with constitutional provisions. There are no restrictions preventing an executive from joining another political party. Even in the legislature, there are allowances, especially in cases of party division.
As you know, the PDP has experienced internal divisions, with different leadership blocs. That alone creates room for movement.
As for APC in Enugu State, we are very pleased. The party is getting stronger. Previously, we did not have a governor, but now we do, and that strengthens our position significantly.
The governor also played a key role in uniting factions within the APC by bringing them together under a caretaker committee structure that ensured inclusiveness across wards and local governments. This has given members a sense of belonging.
So, we see APC in Enugu as a party on the path to greater strength, not just in the South-East but nationally.
Q: Some members allege that APC in Enugu has been taken over by former PDP members. What is your response?
Odo: I would say that claim is unfortunate and does not reflect reality. There is nothing like an invasion. What we are seeing is the exercise of constitutional freedom of association.
If anything, the reverse may be the case. At the national level, key positions allocated to Enugu State are occupied by long-standing APC members, not former PDP members.
At the state level, yes, PDP members who joined us have numerical strength, so some positions were conceded to them. But this was done alongside contributions from old APC members and even those from the Labour Party.
Nobody swallowed the other. What we have done is blend together to build a stronger party.
Q: How can internal divisions be managed ahead of the 2027 elections?
Odo: During the caretaker period, we made conscious efforts to bridge gaps. There is no real crisis between old APC members and those who joined from PDP.
What you may see are individual political ambitions, which are natural in politics. Some people may explore alternatives if they feel disadvantaged, but that does not amount to a crisis.
There has been full accommodation across board. At the ward and local government levels, you will find representation from all groups—old APC, PDP, and Labour Party members.
Politics is about collaboration. You give what you have to get what you do not have.
Q: Do you agree with claims that Enugu is becoming a one-party state under Governor Mbah?
Odo: No, I do not agree. A governor’s defection cannot turn a state into a one-party system. The strength of opposition depends on how well they organize themselves.
Is it the governor that caused divisions within PDP or the Labour Party? Even newer parties are experiencing internal conflicts. These are internal issues, not the governor’s doing.
Opposition is vital in a democracy, especially when it is constructive. It keeps the government on its toes. But what we often see is opposition aimed at gaining entry into government, not opposing policies.
True opposition should be issue-based. When I was in opposition, I maintained my stance without seeking personal gain. That is what democracy requires.
So, what we have is not a one-party system. The real issue is that the opposition needs to be more organized and focused.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
-
News5 days agoCommissioner Dies Suddenly at Abuja Hospital
-
News5 days ago
Niger Delta Chambers Unveils Plan to Transform Region Into Investment Hub
-
News5 days ago
Niger Delta Chamber Breaks Silence on Alleged Summit Trademark Dispute
-
Health3 days agoUNTH Begins Contact Tracing After Suspected Diphtheria Case
-
News5 days agoDangote Reveals He Bought First Private Jet at 22
-
Entertainment5 days agoPoco Lee Granted Bail in UK Ahead of September 15 Court Hearing
-
News4 days agoPoor Lighting, Sanitation Frustrate Work At First Niger Bridge
-
Crime4 days agoPolice Place Nigeria on Red Alert Over Planned Attacks