The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • Enugu APC Targets Total Victory as Campaign Council Unleashes Strategy

    Enugu APC Targets Total Victory as Campaign Council Unleashes Strategy

    The Enugu State APC Campaign Council has begun putting its campaign machinery in motion, unveiling an operational framework designed to coordinate its 51 directorates and deliver an overwhelming victory for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Peter Mbah and all party candidates in the 2027 general elections.

    The strategy was unveiled on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after a high-powered meeting of the council’s directors, three zonal secretaries and the three Deputy Directors-General representing the senatorial zones: Deacon Okey Ogbodo for Enugu East, Dr. Dan Shere for Enugu North and SKE Udeh-Okoye for Enugu West. The meeting was presided over by the council’s Director-General, Chief Dr. Charles Mbah, while its Secretary-General, Dr. Eric Oluedo, was also in attendance.

    Addressing journalists after the meeting, the council’s spokesperson, Barr. Steve Oruruo, said the gathering was convened to define the responsibilities of each directorate, eliminate operational overlaps and establish a coordinated structure for the campaign.

    According to Oruruo, Chief Mbah used the meeting to inspire members and reinforce the need for commitment, discipline and effective coordination in achieving the council’s objectives.

    “The template provided at the meeting is intended to streamline the responsibilities of each directorate, prevent overlaps and avoid unnecessary friction. Each directorate will have clearly defined functions and be accountable for delivering results through regular feedback, monitoring and checks and balances,” Oruruo said.

    He explained that the council was deliberately expanded to accommodate a broad spectrum of stakeholders across the state, including influential political leaders, elders, young people, professionals and people from different political backgrounds that have yielded to Governor Mbah’s disruptive and innovative leadership.

    “The intention is to build a massive campaign structure capable of reaching every part of the state. Members are expected to trigger robust and overwhelming dominance of the political space through informed conversation on the flawless performance status of Mbah’s administration in support of the APC,” he said.

    Oruruo added that the council was determined to secure victory across all elective positions, stressing that its ambition extended beyond the presidential and governorship contests to include the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.

    “The ultimate objective is to bring the different contributions together towards securing a massive and unprecedented electoral victory for the APC at all levels,” he stated.

    He said the council would prioritise direct engagement with voters, urging campaign members to present the achievements of the Tinubu and Mbah administrations through facts, documented evidence and measurable results rather than emotional appeals.

    On the performance of the Mbah administration, Oruruo said the governor’s achievements in economic development and other critical sectors had strengthened public confidence in his ability to manage the state craft and attracted growing interest from investors, including those in the diaspora.

    He maintained that the administration’s performance, including its rankings by the National Bureau of Statistics and other credible institutions, had provided the campaign council with compelling material to engage voters.

    The council has 51 directorates covering key areas such as administration, finance, fundraising, public communication, media, new media and strategic communication, research and strategy, election planning and coordination, security, legal services, mobilisation, logistics, welfare, medical services, voters’ education, inter-party affairs, peace and reconciliation, trade unions and market associations, persons with disabilities, and non-indigene coordination.

    Other directorates include corporate and private-sector coordination, parliamentary mobilisation, event management, venue management and inter-party relations.

    Oruruo said the various units were expected to work collaboratively through effective communication and accountability to ensure that the size and diversity of the council did not undermine its efficiency.

    Among those at the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; Chairman of the Enugu State Tourism Board, Rita Mbah; Commissioner for Transport, Ricky Agu; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Barr. Ugochi Madueke and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ngozi Eni

    Other political leaders and stakeholders included Barr. Charles Egumgbe, the party’s pioneer state chairman in 1998 and current Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs; former PDP chairman Vita Abba; and the state APC Secretary, Chukwudi Nnadozie, Ogbo Asogwa, Joe Mammel

    Director of Non-Indigenes in the council, Chief Cosmas Agagbo (Okpoka N’Abba), reaffirmed the community’s commitment to the APC and Governor Mbah, pledging massive mobilisation for the party ahead of the 2027 elections. He said the governor’s performance had strengthened their confidence and provided compelling reasons to rally support for his administration and the APC.

    The meeting was attended by directors and representatives of the various campaign units, who deliberated on the operational framework, coordination mechanisms and the council’s target of delivering an across-the-board APC victory in Enugu State.

  • Okorocha to Uzodimma: Stop Attacking Judge Over Imo West APC Case

    Uzodimma (L) and Okorocha (R)

    Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has asked his successor, Hope Uzodimma, and his aides to stop attacking the judge who ruled against the governor’s claim to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

    Okorocha urged Uzodimma to pursue his appeal up to the Supreme Court rather than denigrate the judiciary over the October 26 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The former governor spoke on Tuesday at the court premises, where he said he had gone to sign some documents at the court registry in connection with the appeal filed by Uzodimma against the judgment.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu had upheld Okorocha’s claim to the APC senatorial ticket for Imo West.

    Reacting to comments by the governor’s aides and the APC National Vice Chairman, Okorocha described their attacks on the judge as unacceptable, questioning why the judiciary was praised when judgments favoured Uzodimma but condemned when they went against him.

    “I listened to that news yesterday and it was so horrible, so terrible, that Governor Hope’s aide, in the name of his Deputy Chief of Staff, and the National Vice Chairman of APC, could berate a judge, insult a judge.

    “So, it means that whenever the judgment is for Hope then, it is good but, whenever it is against him then the Judiciary is evil. I think this is very uncivilized. I want him to caution his attack dogs and his people to refrain from insulting judges. It doesn’t represent this nation well, and I feel particularly hurt,” he said.

    Okorocha alleged that Uzodimma had directed his aides, commissioners and other associates to attack the judge, insisting that the governor should allow the appeal process to run its course.

    “At least the Supreme Court is there,” he said.

    He also questioned the governor’s objections to the judgment, arguing that the court had relied on discrepancies in the documents relating to the APC primary election.

    “So it is very shocking and very surprising. I don’t know what they expected; that the judge should have said that the election was done on the 16th for Hope, when that actual date is 18th?

    “Or, he would have said that Hope emerged by consensus, which is not true?” Okorocha asked.

    He also questioned the authenticity of documents allegedly signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State and the APC National Chairman, which he said indicated that Uzodimma emerged through consensus and that the election took place two days earlier.

    The former governor urged the political actors to protect the judiciary and allow justice to prevail.

    “Hope has been a very big and unusual beneficiary of the court and I think he should have respected,” he added.

    Okorocha challenged Uzodimma to publicly dispute his claims rather than allegedly using aides to attack judges.

    “If you (Uzodimma) think any of the things I am saying is not true and that the judgment is not true, Hope should come to television or come and speak.

    “Why is he (Uzodimma) hiding and using attack dogs here and there to attack judges? That is very bad, and that shows what it means,” he said.

    Okorocha also accused the governor of presenting forged documents during the proceedings, alleging that inconsistencies in the materials certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) left the judge with little choice but to rule against him.

    “In fact, if you look at the documents certified by INEC, according to Hope, and look at the inconsistencies and irregularities, then you could say that even the judge has no choice. Even the judge that will want to do wrong cannot do wrong in this case,” he said.

    He again urged Uzodimma to pursue his appeal instead of allowing his supporters to attack the judiciary.

    “Stop insulting judges. Pursue your appeal and stop your attack dogs from insulting everybody and insulting the Judiciary,” he said.

    The former governor, however, expressed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary, saying he believed the right thing would be done.

    “I salute the Nigerian Judiciary, honestly. To whatever you might say, they’re still very good. And I believe that the right thing should be done,” he said. Channels

  • PDP Sets December 10 Deadline for State Chapters to Upload Polling Agents

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed December 10, 2026, as the deadline for the submission of nominations for party agents ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    It urged its state chapters to ensure the timely registration and uploading of their agents on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

    The party said the deadline was aimed at preventing last-minute challenges associated with the registration of agents and ensuring that only loyal, committed and properly vetted members were nominated to represent it at polling units across the country.

    The National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Umar Bature, announced the deadline on Monday in Abuja during a one-day INEC portal capacity-building and training programme organised for state secretaries, state organising secretaries and state information and communication technology (ICT) officers.

    Bature said the training was designed to equip party officials with the technical knowledge required to upload agents’ details to the INEC portal, stressing that the process was critical to the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.

    He disclosed that the programme was attended by eight state secretaries, 21 state organising secretaries and 25 ICT officers.

    According to him, the successful registration of party agents was essential to effective election monitoring, particularly as the party had recently faced challenges relating to the uploading of candidates on the INEC portal.

    “We have just finished the battle with INEC over the uploading of candidates, and you can see that INEC is doing whatever it wants to do, particularly after the Supreme Court judgment,” he said. Arise News

  • Soludo Says Political Differences Have Not Affected Friendship With Peter Obi

    Soludo Says Political Differences Have Not Affected Friendship With Peter Obi

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has said his relationship with former governor Peter Obi remains cordial despite their disagreements over politics and economic issues.

    Soludo made this known during an interview with BBC News Igbo on Monday, saying the two families maintained close personal ties even though they supported different political interests.

    “Peter Obi and I are good friends. Our two families are on good terms. His wife gave birth to my child in the divine water, my wife gave birth to his child in the confirmation. But when it comes to politics, give me mine, give him his. It’s politics that is being done,” he said.

    The governor explained that their political differences became evident during the Anambra governorship election, when Obi backed a candidate of his choice while Soludo pursued his own political ambition.

    “He has someone he thinks should be the governor of Anambra. I am also listening. He supported the person he wanted. But I won by the grace of God,” Soludo said.

    His remarks come amid renewed exchanges between the two politicians over Obi’s record as governor and the financial state of Anambra when he left office in 2014.

    The relationship between their families also became a subject of public discussion in September after Obi said he and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children.

    However, Daniel Ezeigwe, media aide to the Anambra First Lady, Nonye Soludo, challenged the account, explaining that she was the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Obi’s wife, Margaret, was the baptismal godmother to one of Soludo’s daughters.

    During the BBC interview, Soludo also clarified his controversial 2022 comments about Obi’s chances in the 2023 presidential election, saying he did not simply predict that the former governor would lose.

    He explained that his argument was that Obi’s decision to contest as a third-force candidate would divide opposition votes, particularly those of the Peoples Democratic Party, and give the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu, an advantage.

    “No, no, I didn’t say he wouldn’t win. What I said was that it is impossible for someone who is a presidential candidate of a party to not even write a letter saying he is running,” Soludo said.

    He added that he had communicated his concerns directly to Obi before the election.

    “In fact, I also wrote to him that his participation would take away a lot of votes from the PDP and make it easier for Tinubu to win,” he said.

    Soludo further argued that bringing opposition parties together would not necessarily guarantee victory against an incumbent government.

    “Even if you have a united opposition, it still does not guarantee you get to defeat an incumbent. But that is even the starting point,” he said.

    The governor also recalled inviting Obi to join the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in March 2022 to contest the presidency.

    According to Soludo, their initial discussions were focused on mobilising the Igbo people rather than simply pursuing political office.

    “It was me myself who invited him to APGA so he could run, early March 2022 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University,” he said.

    He added that political alliances should be built on prior consultations and a shared understanding of objectives.

    “We deliberate first before going into an alliance before seeking power. You don’t just get power in Nigeria like that,” Soludo said.

    In November 2022, Soludo published an article titled History Beckons and I Will Not Be Silent, in which he questioned Obi’s presidential ambition and declared that the former Anambra governor could not win the 2023 election.

    “Peter Obi knows that he can’t and won’t win,” Soludo wrote in the article.

  • Amadeo Event Centre Controversy: Enugu APC Campaign Council Accuses NDC Of Disinformation

    Amadeo Event Centre Controversy: Enugu APC Campaign Council Accuses NDC Of Disinformation

    …Defends Mbah’s Government

    The Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of deliberately spreading false information over the controversy surrounding the use of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu for a town hall meeting involving NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi , alleging that the party was attempting to discredit the APC-led state government through a viral video.

    In a statement titled ‘Unmasking the Alarmism of NDC: A Clarion Call for Enugu’s Extra Vigilance’, issued by its Spokesperson and Director of Public Communications, Steve Oruruo, the campaign council said the dispute arose from an alleged breach of a private agreement between the event centre’s management and one Dr. Sabastine Chuks Eze, who, according to the event center, reportedly presented himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners.

    The campaign council wondered why NDC decided to present the disagreement to the unsuspecting public as an attempt to prevent the NDC from holding a town hall meeting at the venue and in the state. The APC council also dismissed allegations linking the state government to the incident and challenged the NDC Enugu East Senatorial District candidate, Ada Ogbu, to apologise to residents.

    Oruruo who signed the statement maintained that the controversy was being politicised ahead of the 2027 elections and defended Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, describing Enugu as a peaceful and developing state.

    The statement urged voters to focus on issues, ideas and candidates’ capacity to deliver rather than what it characterised as political attacks and misinformation.

    The full statement is reproduced below:

    UNMASKING THE ALARMISM OF NDC: A CLARION CALL FOR ENUGU’S EXTRA VIGILANCE

    The attention of the Enugu APC Campaign Council has been drawn to contrived layers of spurious allegations blatantly spewed against the credibility of the management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu and, by extension, the integrity of the APC-led Enugu State Government through a viral video.

    Silence could have been golden, save for the brazen frivolity that characterised the chronicled and dramatized falsehood intentionally deployed to embarrass and impugn the image of the entire state, and invariably validate their next lie in the sequence of street-level mendacities, while an unsuspecting section of the populace may remain confused. Ndi-Enugu must therefore prepare to rise above such barefaced antics, gimmicks and shenanigans from the pit of hell.

    We admit that the Social media is a platform that has unwittingly provided countless opportunities for the audience to be mesmerised with scintillating and breathtaking performances while advertising cognitive brilliance and prolific imagination. Yet, it paradoxically affords some of its users the unmistakable luxury of exciting mediocrity and licensed idiocy.

    What we understand as a breach or violation of Clause 17 of the terms and conditions of a personal agreement reached with the management of Amadeo Event Centre by one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, a disguised client who paraded himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, in which he assented to the right of the aforesaid management to halt any activity, meeting, or event not conducted strictly in accordance with the stipulated rules of engagement, eventually metamorphosed into an NDC contract to host a town hall meeting at the behest of former Governor Peter Obi.

    Instructively, the Amadeo management had since divested and deconstructed the dubious, speedy and strange garb with which the latest in this series of lies were cloaked, lest the public be deceived with the baseless, misleading and ill-motivated circus of freshly conjured lies, or outrageous spectacle of fabricated stories, blatant falsehoods, and disinformation.

    However, in a fruitless bid to deceive a highly elitist and intellectually persuaded Enugu electorate, Mrs Ada Ogbu and her dramatis personae threw caution, her pedigree and the pious proclivities of their members to the wind in what perhaps turned out to be muddying the waters of unforced errors. It is therefore not only ridiculously stunning, but defies all imagination, mangles all logics, and belies all credulity that the Senatorial candidate of NDC and her co-travellers would condescend to the despicable level of openly linking Enugu Government to an ill-fated and self-defeatist attempt at surreptitiously hosting a presidential candidate through the cesspit of deceit, manipulation and immorality.
    Where is the ecclesiastical rectitude, untainted probity, and self-acclaimed morality that Governor Peter Obi preaches? Have they not been cascaded to Enugu NDC members?

    The APC family in Enugu and the teeming supporters of our performing Governor, already armed by the opponent’s innate sophistry in contriving evil, and the frightening frequency of these concocted absurdities by the Enugu NDC, could not have been deceived or appalled by the imputation repressive state influence in a simple case of default in private commercial agreement. Rather, we are condemned to view this latest slant from the precincts of a smokescreen, an unholy prelude and a failed alibi to validate future theatricals and nuisance targeting unsuspecting Enugu voters.

    Enugu NDC has failed on arrival. It is almost non-existent in Enugu and perhaps gains its only infinitesimal traction whenever the state government or the name of our erudite Governor is mentioned in its tales of woes.

    Enugu State under the enigmatic and talismanic Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been judicially noticed as an epicentre of enduring peace, modern security, exponential growth, sustainable development, serene ambience, and the alluring harmony of a united people. Mischievously linking uncharitable words or deeds, without verifiable facts, to a revered state even the NDC purportedly intends to govern, is antithetical to the minimum acceptable trust values and the widely acknowledged enviable security profile of Enugu State.

    A cursory look at the rejoinder from the management of Amadeo Event Centre would easily suggest that Mrs Ada Ogbu (NDC Enugu East Senatorial Candidate) should apologise to Ndi Enugu. Only in her lucid and unagitated moments will she realise how much she has offended the sensibilities and temperament of Ndi-Enugu, famous for their uncanny savvy, intellectual nobility, sublime virility, exquisite power of imagination, and peerless sense of history.

    Ndi-Enugu, the 2027 Elections are about issues, ideas and the definitive capacity to deliver. Therefore, no amount of smear politics, incendiary comments, political calumny, or media frenzy can rewrite Dr Peter Mbah’s glowing credentials, deeply entrenched in the hearts of our electorate, who are watching in pleasant shock as the dividends of democracy are being positively re-imagined and re-engineered in their favour.

    STEVE ORURUO
    Spokesperson and Director
    Public Communications
    ENUGU STATE APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

  • Vote for Tinubu in 2027, South-East Govs Tell Ndigbo

    Vote for Tinubu in 2027, South-East Govs Tell Ndigbo

    Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Charles Soludo of Anambra State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State have called on the people of South-East region to vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election and ignore every form of deceipt and political distractions.

    The governors made the call during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme for the South-East flagged off by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday.

    Speaking, the host governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, urged the people of the region to support Tinubu’s re-election bid to enable him to consolidate the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.

    He attributed ongoing development projects, including the construction of primary healthcare centres, to the federal government’s economic reforms.

    “If I ask what future you want for your children, I’m sure you are seeing that future unfold gradually through the bold and courageous reforms of Mr. President.

    “It is through those reforms that enough money has been made available to all the states. Which is why in Enugu, when you look around you, you will see the Smart Green Schools, Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, and numerous other projects and initiatives we have undertaken in just three years.

    This is happening because of the bold and courageous reforms of Mr. President and we know the job is not finished yet. A good sailor does not abandon his ship mid-sea because of challenges.

    “So, we must finish the journey we all started together. We must come out on January 16 with our PVC and ensure that the good work Mr. President is doing will continue.

    “Don’t listen to any voice. Those voices telling us a different thing. We, the Igbos have gone to communities outside our zone to build businesses. And we also know how to build relationships. And that is being put to test. We are not a people that are ethnic bigots. We are a people that are strategic.

    “And that is why we must all come out in our numbers and support Mr. President to continue the good work. Support all our APC candidates to ensure that they are returned come January and February,” he emphasised.

    Speaking on the empowerment programme targeting 5,000 women across the South-east, Mbah said the initiative followed the empowerment of more than 2,000 women, including payment of hospital bills, in Enugu by the First Lady, within 48 hours.

    “When you empower a woman, you strengthen the family. When you empower a woman, you build a strong community,” he said.

    Also speaking, Governor Uzodimma reiterated the commitment of the region to supporting Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

    He explained that Igbos had experienced marginalisation for over 60 years, but were beginning to witness a new era of political inclusion and development under Tinubu.

    He commended the president for expanding the scope of infrastructure and economic development in the South-East.

    “We are now seeing good roads, electricity, health reforms as well as educational reforms in the country. A winning team must not be changed,” he said.

    The governor urged the electorate to sustain the current development trajectory, saying the federal government’s economic reforms had increased resources available to states for development.

    “We have more money to build Okigwe to Owerri, Umuahia to Owerri, Orlu to Owerri and Owerri to Port Harcourt roads,” he said.

    Like Mbah, Uzodimma added that the improved financial position of the state had enabled his administration to pay salaries and pensions consistently, including 13th-month salaries for workers.

    In his remarks, Governor Nwifuru said that the number one mission for Ndigbo in 2027 elections was to re-elect President Tinubu, describing the APC as the only political party with a clear and identifiable manifesto capable of sustaining the country’s development and truly advancing the course of Ndigbo.

    He dismissed suggestions of his involvement in any political coalition, stressing that his loyalty remained with the APC, urging urged supporters to vote for APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections.

    Similarly, Soludo, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Gilbert Ibezim, said the South-East had a responsibility to support Tinubu’s re-election in appreciation of his administration’s achievements, adding that the region stood to benefit more from continued collaboration with the federal government.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged Igbos to embrace political inclusion by supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

    Kalu said the Igbo had not produced a president of Nigeria in the past 60 years, and was therefore not party to any one-term arrangement for the Presidency of Igbo extraction by anybody.

    He, however, stressed that the Igbo needed to to strengthen its political alliances across the nation to actualise a full two-term Igbo presidency in the near future.

    He recalled that Tinubu, while serving as governor of Lagos State, maintained cordial relationships with Igbos and included them in his cabinet.

    He commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

    He described it as a major step towards addressing the region’s developmental challenges.

    Meanwhile, addressing the rally, the First Lady conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill message and urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the economic challenges associated with the President’s reforms, insisting that the country was moving towards prosperity.

    She likened the process to childbirth, noting that although the period of labour could be painful, it ultimately led to delivery.

    “Mr. President said I should greet everyone. We have done reforms and we are now in prosperity. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. The worst is over. We are stepping into prosperity,” she said.

    The First Lady described the empowerment initiative as an indication of the APC government’s commitment to translating its promises into practical interventions, noting that the party was combining political mobilisation with economic support.

    The First Lady urged the women to mobilise support for President Tinubu and APC candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, asking them to hold political aspirants accountable for their records of empowerment and development interventions.

    Other dignitaries at the massive rally were Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Uloma Akpabio; wives of the South East governors; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

    Also present were the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye; National Women Leader of the APC and Director-General of the Women Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; South-East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen and other party stakeholders.

    The rally by the Remi Tinubu-led Women Mobilisation Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which kicked off in the South East, will also be held across the remaining five geopolitical zones of the country.

  • Remi Tinubu Flags Off South-East Women’s Mega Empowerment, Says Nigeria’s Stepping into Prosperity

    Remi Tinubu Flags Off South-East Women’s Mega Empowerment, Says Nigeria’s Stepping into Prosperity

    …Distributes empowerment materials, promises ₦200,000 business grants to 750 persons

    …As S’East governors throw their weight behind Tinubu’s re-election

    … Benjamin Kalu: Ndigbo not part of anybody’s one-term presidency arrangement, we deserve more

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday flagged off the South-East Women Mega Empowerment and the All Progressives Congress’ Women Mobilisation Directorate’s campaign across the six geopolitical zones, saying the worst was over, as Nigeria was now stepping into prosperity flowing from President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

    The rally, which climaxed with the distribution of empowerment materials such as sewing machines, food processors, electricity generating sets and popcorn machines to women drawn from the five states of the region to support their economic activities and small-scale businesses, also attracted the presence of women leaders and members of the party from Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra states.

    Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, as well as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, were also in attendance at the rally, which took place at Okpara Square, Enugu.

    Addressing the women, the First Lady, Senator Tinubu, conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill message and urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the economic challenges associated with the President’s reforms, insisting that the country was moving towards prosperity.

    She likened the process to childbirth, noting that although the period of labour could be painful, it ultimately led to delivery.

    “Mr. President said I should greet everyone. We have done reforms and we are now in prosperity. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. The worst is over. We are stepping into prosperity,” she said.

    The First Lady described the empowerment initiative as an indication of the APC government’s commitment to translating its promises into practical interventions, noting that the party was combining political mobilisation with economic support.

    She expressed appreciation to the people of the South-East for their reception and support, recalling that she had visited the region several times since her husband’s assumption of office.

    Senator Tinubu also announced additional empowerment programmes for women and elderly persons in Enugu State, promising that on December 3, APC senatorial candidates would be provided with funds to empower 250 women each with ₦200,000 to establish businesses.

    She further announced an empowerment programme for 250 elderly persons scheduled for December 17, explaining that the beneficiaries must be aged 65 and above.

    According to her, each of the two interventions would cover 750 beneficiaries across the three senatorial districts of Enugu State.

    The First Lady urged the women to mobilise support for President Tinubu and APC candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, asking them to hold political aspirants accountable for their records of empowerment and development interventions.

    In his remarks, Governor Mbah, while welcoming the First Lady, acknowledged the contributions of women to families, communities and national development.

    He said the rally was designed to empower more than 5,000 women across the South-East, adding that her office had, within the preceding 48 hours, supported more than 2,000 Enugu women through cash assistance, payment of hospital bills and the provision of tools to enable them to establish and expand businesses.

    Mbah said the initiative went beyond political mobilisation, stressing that its central objective was to transform women into wealth creators rather than keeping them dependent on periodic handouts.

    The governor also linked his administration’s development milestones to the economic reforms of the Federal Government, particularly the increased resources available to states through federation allocations.

    He cited the construction of Smart Green Schools and primary healthcare centres across the state as examples of projects being implemented with the increased resources.

    Mbah urged the women to support Tinubu’s continuation in office, arguing that the country would not abandon an ongoing journey because of temporary challenges.

    “A good sailor does not abandon his ship mid-sea because of challenges. So, we must finish the journey we all started together,” he said.

    He further urged the South-East electorate to participate in the forthcoming elections, describing the Igbo as a people whose economic and social engagements extend beyond their geographical region.

    “We are not a people that are ethnic by nature. We are a people that are strategic,” Mbah said, calling for support for President Tinubu and APC candidates.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the South-East would not accept a proposed four-year presidential tenure arrangement for a President of Igbo extraction.

    He insisted that the region must seek an eight-year tenure when it eventually produces the nation’s president and called on the people of the South-East to support Tinubu’s re-election bid come 2027.

    Kalu said President Tinubu had demonstrated commitment to addressing longstanding concerns of the South-East, particularly through the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), adding that the post-civil war promise of the three Rs — Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation — had yet to receive the full implementation of the commitments until the establishment of the commission under the Tinubu administration.

    He also cited the President’s appointments of people from the South-East into his cabinet and other federal initiatives as indications of his administration’s engagement with the region.

    According to Uzodimma, increased allocations from the Federation Account had also provided state governments with greater resources to execute development projects, and he urged the people of the region to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

    Similarly, Governor Nwifuru said the APC’s central political objective was to secure a second term for President Tinubu, urging party members and supporters to work towards achieving that goal.

    “We have a project and that project is our party, the APC. Our project is how to deliver the President for a second term,” he said.

    The rally was marked by the presentation of empowerment equipment to women from across the five South-East states, alongside calls by party leaders for increased political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Other dignitaries included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Uloma Akpabio; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

    Also present were the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye; National Women Leader of the APC and Director-General of the Women Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; South-East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen and other party stakeholders.

  • Okorocha Triumphs in Court Over Uzodimma for Imo Senatorial Ticket

    Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has described a Federal High Court judgment on the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary in Imo West as a victory for the judiciary, democracy and the Nigerian Constitution.

    Okorocha had sued the ruling All Progressives Congress, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and others, seeking a declaration that he was the authentic party candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.

    The APC had declared Uzodimma the winner of the senatorial primary, a decision Okorocha challenged at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    In the suit, Okorocha also asked the court to determine whether it was constitutional for Uzodimma to contest the 2027 senatorial election while still serving as governor, whose tenure is expected to end in January 2028.

    PUNCH Online had reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish Okorocha’s name.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment, also restrained Uzodimma from parading himself as the APC senatorial candidate for the January 16, 2027 election, holding that he did not win the party’s May 18, 2026 primary.

    The judge declared that Okorocha emerged as the lawful winner of the primary, which was monitored by INEC, and directed the APC to submit his name to the electoral commission as its candidate.

    Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemodo, Okorocha described the judgment as a landmark decision.

    Okorocha thanked President Bola Tinubu for “providing the enabling environment for the Judiciary and other Institutions to function for the nation’s rapid development and growth.”

    He also commended the APC leadership for allowing party members to pursue their legitimate aspirations and constitutional rights.

    The former governor expressed gratitude to the people of Imo State, particularly residents of Imo West Senatorial District, for their prayers, moral support and spontaneous celebrations following the judgment.

    Okorocha also commended Uzodimma for being among the respondents in the case, describing his involvement in the proceedings as part of a historic judgment.

    The former governor further expressed gratitude to God for what he described as a victory.

    “This judgment, to say the least, is a resounding victory for the nation’s judiciary. It is a victory for the nation’s fast-growing democracy. It is an outstanding victory for the nation’s Constitution, as amended,” Okorocha said.

    He added, “It is a remarkable victory for all lovers of what is right and haters of what is wrong. It is a notable victory for posterity and history. Finally, it is a victory for Imo people in general, and Imo West Senatorial District people in particular.”

  • APC Rejects Court Order Sacking Uzodimma as Imo West Candidate

    The All Progressives Congress in Imo State has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections, despite a Federal High Court ruling recognising former governor Rochas Okorocha as the party’s candidate.

    The party stated this in a press release signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Onwuasoanya Jones, on Thursday, in reaction to the judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to publish Okorocha’s name as the APC candidate for the senatorial district and directed Uzodimma to stop parading himself as the party’s candidate for the January 16, 2027 election.

    However, the APC said Uzodimma remained its candidate, having won the party’s primary with the support of the majority of its members.

    “The Party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, remains the candidate of our Party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great Party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our Party members,” the statement read.

    The party added that its legal department would study the judgment and determine its next steps.

    “The Party’s legal department shall study the outcome of a legal intervention in this matter and act accordingly,” it said.

    The APC also urged its members and supporters to remain focused and committed to securing victories across the state’s constituencies.

    The dispute followed the May 18, 2026, APC senatorial primary, in which Uzodimma was declared winner with 230,464 votes, while Okorocha polled 1,098 votes, according to the results recognised by INEC.

    Okorocha subsequently challenged the outcome in court, disputing Uzodimma’s recognition as the party’s candidate.

    In its ruling on Thursday, the court held that Okorocha was the lawful winner of the primary and ordered the APC to submit his name to INEC. It also faulted inconsistencies in documents the party presented to support Uzodimma’s nomination. Punch

  • APC Expands Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council with New List

    The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday released a supplementary list expanding the leadership and membership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

    In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, the party said the additional appointments cut across various directorates, sectoral groups, mobilisation structures and operational units of the Council.

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby releases a supplementary list of leadership and membership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), expanding the composition of the Council ahead of the 2027 general election,” the statement read.

    The party reiterated its commitment to effective coordination among the different components of the PCC as preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace.
    The supplementary list builds on earlier versions of the Council.

    The initial membership was unveiled in August 2026 with President Tinubu as Chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as Vice Chairmen, former Zamfara Governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary.

    A revised list issued in mid-October 2026 broadened the structure further, incorporating a “rainbow coalition” approach that brought in high-profile figures from outside the core APC fold.

    These included Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike (named campaign coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT), Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke (Osun coordinator), and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra coordinator), among others.

    The Council was formally inaugurated on 14 October 2026 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Subsequent expansions introduced additional directorates covering election planning and monitoring, infrastructure mobilisation, health sector engagement, civil society, new media, extractive industries, entertainment, security and intelligence, artisan mobilisation, labour relations, faith-based groups and other specialised units.

    Wednesday’s supplementary list continues that process of enlargement, adding more leaders and members to strengthen nationwide coordination and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general election.

    The full details of the new appointments were released alongside the statement via the party’s official channels. Punch

  • Onochie Igwesi Makes Enugu APC Campaign Council List

    Onochie Igwesi Makes Enugu APC Campaign Council List

    The Secretary to Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Barr. Onochie Jon-Igwesi, has been appointed a member of the Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council.

    Jon-Igwesi who was also sworn in for a second term as Secretary to Nkanu West on October 21, 2026, was appointed the state Deputy Director of the Mainstream Media (Print) in the campaign council.

    The 51-Directorate campaign council which is chaired by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and was inaugurated by him on October 27, 2026, was charged to pursue a resounding victory for the party in all the 2027 elections.

    Mbah urged party faithful to campaign hard on the administration’s achievements and be unapologetically APC in doing so, saying the opposition had nothing but propaganda to offer.

    Accepting his appointment, Jon-Igwesi expressed gratitude to Mbah for the opportunity to serve the party and the state. He noted that the confidence reposed in him ought to be justified and he expressed readiness to campaign vigorously for the APC, remarking “Mbah’s administrative acumen and governance scorecard makes the job less difficult”.

    Onochie Jon-Igwesi is a dedicated professional with a diverse portfolio spanning public service, entrepreneurship, media proprietorship, community engagement, education administration, and the legal profession. In 2020, he embarked on media entrepreneurship founding Pacesetter Frontier Magazine.

    He holds degrees in Microbiology and Law; certificates in Public Leadership and Policy; International Criminal Law, Journalism, Business Consultancy and Mediation. He is a school administrator, Rotary International member, and Paul Harris Fellow, driving discussions on peace, governance, and development through the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, an initiative of his Magazine.

    Jon-Igwesi is expected to bring his expertise in the print media industry to bear to drive the re-election of all candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

  • [BREAKING] 2027: Mbah Leads the Charge as Enugu APC Unveils 51-Directorate Campaign Council (See Full List)

    [BREAKING] 2027: Mbah Leads the Charge as Enugu APC Unveils 51-Directorate Campaign Council (See Full List)

    …Sen. Nnamani, Nwobodo, Dr. Nnamani, Chime, Ugwuanyi, Prof. Nnaji, Arthur Eze, Frank Nweke, Madueke, others get advisory roles

    …Udeh, Nwoye, Igwesi, Utazi, Egumgbe, Ben Collins Ndu, Onyia, others head 51 Directorates

    …Council to be inaugurated on Tuesday

    The Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, unveiled the party’s Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The Campaign Council, comprising 51 Directorates, is chaired by the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, while the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Deputy National Chairman, APC (South); Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; and the Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, are Vice Chairmen.

    The list signed by Chukwunweike and the Secretary of Enugu APC, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, also has Chief Charlie Mbah as the Director-General of the Campaign Organisation and Dr. Eric Oluedo as the Secretary-General.

    Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Dr. Dan Shere, and Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye are Deputy Campaign DGs for Enugu East Senatorial District, Enugu North Senatorial District, and Enugu West Senatorial District, respectively.

    Barr. Steve Oruruo is the Campaign Spokesperson and Director of the Public Communication Committee, with Dr. Austin Okolie as co-spokesperson and Dr. Malachy Agbo as Secretary.

    Mazi Uche Anichukwu and Dan Nwomeh, both drawn from the Governor’s media team, head the Directorate of New Media and Strategic Communication and the Directorate of Mainstream Media, respectively. Dr. Collins Ogbu is the Secretary of the former, while Dr. Reuben Onyishi is the Secretary of the latter.

    Barr. Victor Udeh leads the Administration Directorate, while Dr. Ben Nwoye and Arc. Uche Nwatu are the Director and Co-Director of the Fundraising Committee, respectively.

    Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.), chairs the Security Directorate, while former Inspector General of Police, Ogbono Onovo (Rtd.), is the Secretary.

    The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is in charge of the Directorate of Government Appointees Coordination (Federal and State), with Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as Secretary, while former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh, heads Inter-Party Affairs.

    Senator Osita Ngwu, Senator Ikeje Asogwa, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu are Coordinators of the Campaign Council in Enugu West, Enugu North, and Enugu East, respectively.

    Former National Assembly member and Coordinator of the State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi directs the Support Groups Directorate while Hon. Frank Anioma serves as co-director.

    Meanwhile, in their co-signed statement, Chukwunweike and Nnadozie said the size of the Campaign Council was a reflection of “the conviction that every community, ward, local government area, professional group, support organisation, youth body, women’s group, elder, party faithful and person of goodwill must be seen, heard and meaningfully engaged.”

    “Appointment into the campaign structure is therefore not merely an honour; it is a call to duty, accountability and measurable contribution,” they stated.

    The Council will be inaugurated at the International Conference Centre, Enugu on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

    All members of the Campaign Council are to be seated before 3pm.

    Click to download the full list.