The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Category: Politics

  • Nkanu East: APC Campaign Ends in Nkerefi as Leaders Rally Support for Ogbuekwe

    Nkanu East: APC Campaign Ends in Nkerefi as Leaders Rally Support for Ogbuekwe

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has rounded off its campaign tour with a grand finale in Nkerefi Ward 1, home ward of the party’s chairmanship candidate, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe.

    The event, held on Monday, September 21, attracted APC leaders, political appointees, community stakeholders and supporters, who rallied behind Ogbuekwe ahead of the September 26 local government election.

    The gathering also featured calls for continued support for Governor Peter Mbah’s administration and the APC at the grassroots.

    Prof. GOC Ajah, Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, told the gathering that Mbah had done what he could and called on residents to support the governor and the APC.

    “Mbah has done all that he can. It’s now for us to support him. It’s APC from top to bottom. Nkerefi has no problem. We are targeting the first position. Nkerefi will reciprocate Mbah’s goodwill to us in the fullness of time,” he said.

    Commissioner for Lands, Barr. Chimaobi Okoli, said the gathering was an opportunity to appreciate the people of Nkanu East rather than simply campaign for votes.

    “We are not here for campaigns but to say thank you to the people of Nkanu East,” he said.

    Okoli also highlighted ongoing road construction by Mbah across the local government, saying the projects were reducing the difficulty residents previously faced travelling between communities.

    “There was a time Nkanu East appeared to be like four different local governments due to how lengthy the journey to move from one community to another was. But Mbah has shortened the journey by the ongoing construction of roads to link all parts of the local government,” he said.

    The Director-General of the Mmirioma Campaign Council, Emeka Nwatu, congratulated Nkerefi for producing Ogbuekwe, urging residents to take ownership of the campaign and the political project.

    The incumbent Nkanu East Chairman, Sydney Edeh, also pledged his support for Ogbuekwe, saying the candidate would receive the backing required for what he described as seamless continuity.

    “Mike will receive all the support he needs for a seamless continuity,” Edeh said.

    He further told the candidate: “Mike, you will go farther than the position of chairman. I thank Nkanu East for their support to me. Give same support to Mike Ogbuekwe and he won’t disappoint you.”

    Speaking at the event, Ogbuekwe expressed gratitude to the people of Nkanu East and acknowledged Nkerefi’s reported resolution to support the APC.

    “All I have is gratitude. Nkerefi is grateful to Nkanu East,” he said.

    He added: “We acknowledge Nkerefi’s resolution to vote APC. We will work very well to support Peter Mbah. We see Mbah’s works throughout Enugu State, including Nkanu East.”

    Earlier, Monday Diamond Ani, General Manager of the Community and Social Development Agency, called for prayers for Ogbuekwe’s success.

    The grand finale marked the conclusion of the APC’s campaign tour of Nkanu East ahead of the local government election scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.

    The election will be conducted by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) across the state.

  • Wike Rejects Uzodimma’s Reported Senate Presidency Ambition

    Wike Rejects Uzodimma’s Reported Senate Presidency Ambition

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become President of the Senate after the 2027 general elections.

    Wike made the declaration on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, amid an escalating disagreement between him and some governors of the All Progressives Congress over political arrangements ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The FCT minister also alleged that Uzodimma was seeking to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who could support his reported bid to lead the Senate.

    According to Wike, some APC governors were attempting to determine which lawmakers would emerge from the 2027 elections, a move he linked to the reported Senate presidency ambition.

    “He wants to run for Senate president, and what he does is to say to his colleagues, let us be the ones, governors, to produce the senators and members of the House of Representatives,” Wike said.

    Wike further alleged that some politicians who were denied tickets during the APC nomination process had moved to other political platforms to contest the 2027 elections.

    He argued that lawmakers who emerged through alternative platforms would not necessarily be obliged to support Uzodimma’s reported ambition.

    The disagreement is unfolding amid tensions over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement he has been promoting ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, has been among the APC governors opposing political arrangements that they believe could affect the party’s candidates or its electoral interests.

    The Progressive Governors Forum recently said it would not support alliances or political arrangements capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the APC’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

    Wike, however, has maintained that his Rainbow Coalition is not an APC structure and has argued that political parties should remain free to field candidates for legislative and governorship elections while the coalition works to support Tinubu’s presidential bid.

    His latest comments have brought the reported Senate presidency ambition of Uzodimma into the wider political dispute, although the eventual leadership of the Senate after the 2027 elections will depend on the composition of the National Assembly and the subsequent choice of senators.

    Uzodimma has not, in the reports reviewed, publicly confirmed that he will contest for the Senate or formally declared a bid to become Senate President.

  • 2027: Obi Says Nigerians Should Set Campaign Agenda

    2027: Obi Says Nigerians Should Set Campaign Agenda

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to determine the issues that should shape political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Obi made the call on Saturday during an NDC town hall meeting in Kaduna, where he said political parties should engage citizens directly rather than impose campaign promises on them.

    The former Anambra State governor said the Kaduna meeting was designed to hear directly from Nigerians about the challenges affecting them and incorporate their concerns into the party’s political agenda.

    He criticised the practice of presenting attractive manifestos and making promises during election campaigns that may prove difficult to fulfil after politicians assume office.

    “What we want now is that we want politics to be demand-driven, not supply-driven,” Obi said.

    He said politicians should explain their plans before elections and allow voters to scrutinise what they intend to achieve if elected.

    Obi also called for an end to tribal and religious politics, advocating greater emphasis on national unity and social cohesion.

    “We don’t want these politics of tribalism, politics of religion. No. We want politics of unity, politics of love, politics of care,” he said.

    On insecurity, Obi said the security situation had made Nigerians increasingly uncertain about travelling between different parts of the country.

    He recalled that people had questioned the safety of his journey to Kaduna for the town hall.

    “When I tell people I’m coming to Kaduna this morning, everybody’s telling you, are you sure? Are you not sure? How?” he said.

    Obi said an administration led by him would make security a priority and seek to restore Nigerians’ confidence to travel freely across the country.

    He also said that, if elected, he would spend his holidays in Nigeria rather than travelling abroad, using such periods to visit communities affected by insecurity.

    “In four years, I will never take holidays outside this country,” he said, listing Zamfara, Borno, Kano, Oyo and Ondo among states he would visit.

    The NDC candidate also spoke on education and social mobility, saying government policies should create opportunities for children regardless of their family backgrounds.

    “We want policies where every child will go to school,” he said, adding that Nigeria should become “a nation where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody.”

    Obi also outlined economic priorities at the meeting, saying an NDC government would seek to move Nigeria from consumption to production by investing in areas capable of creating jobs.

    He said his proposed administration would focus on investment rather than borrowing for consumption, while also seeking to return more young Nigerians to agriculture and small-scale businesses.

    The NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also addressed the gathering, urging Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process.

    Kwankwaso said the turnout at the Kaduna engagement demonstrated the level of interest in the party’s town hall initiative.

    He identified insecurity, job creation, education and agricultural development among the issues requiring attention, while stressing the need for policies that would improve opportunities for Nigerians.

    The Kaduna engagement is part of the NDC’s ongoing town hall series aimed at interacting directly with citizens ahead of the 2027 elections. A similar session was held in Port Harcourt earlier in September.

    The party said the meetings are intended to provide a platform for Nigerians to raise concerns, ask questions and contribute to discussions on the country’s political and socio-economic direction.

  • 2027: Wike Tipped as APC Campaign Council Coordinator for FCT, Rivers

    2027: Wike Tipped as APC Campaign Council Coordinator for FCT, Rivers

    … President moves to streamline ex-governor’s role in 2027 journey

    … Keyamo tipped as campaign spokesperson

    … To avoid clashes, Akpabio, Barau will not report to Yari

    President Bola Tinubu has moved to give the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, a clearly defined role in his 2027 re-election campaign, with the former Rivers state governor expected to emerge as coordinator of the campaign structure in Rivers State and the FCT, although he retains his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The emerging arrangement, according to sources familiar with the developing campaign structure, is designed to harness Wike’s political network without formally placing him inside the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he has repeatedly said he does not belong to.

    It also comes against the backdrop of a growing disagreement between the minister and several APC governors over how support for Tinubu should be organised ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Wike has repeatedly insisted that he does not require membership of the APC or a position in the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to work for Tinubu’s re-election. He has also rejected suggestions that he was seeking the director general’s position in the campaign council, saying his concern was to deliver Rivers State and the FCT for the President.

    THISDAY learnt last night that the arrangement would, in effect, give the minister a defined presidential campaign responsibility in two strategic territories where he has repeatedly claimed substantial influence.

    But even as the campaign structure is being assembled, the sources said there would not be a single chain of command running through the entire council.

    Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, will serve as Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council, but Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, are not expected to report to him, according to sources familiar with the proposed structure.

    The arrangement, THISDAY understood, reflects the political weight of the two presiding officers of the National Assembly and the desire to accommodate the different power centres expected to participate in Tinubu’s re-election campaign for next year.

    Rather than a conventional military-style structure in which every senior campaign official reports to the director general, the emerging framework is expected to give some of the party’s most influential figures distinct spheres of responsibility.

    Although Yari is expected to coordinate the day-to-day operations of the presidential campaign council as director general, Akpabio and Barau will operate independently of him and are expected to have direct lines of responsibility within the bigger campaign structure.

    The arrangement, according to highly placed sources, is part of the effort to accommodate the various political blocs and influential figures expected to play prominent roles in Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign without creating unnecessary overlaps in authority.

    According to a very reliable source, that same logic underpins the proposed role for Wike, who will be in charge of the FCT and River as Tinubu plans to ensure that clashes do not happen among the key drivers or top echelon of his campaign.

    Only this month, Wike described himself as the “General Commander of the Political Infantry” and declared that he remained in charge of political structures in Rivers and the FCT.

    “You do not need to be governor before you can be in charge. I am the General Commander of the Political Infantry; therefore, I am in charge. So also in FCT. I owe the President to give these two,” he said.

    That assertion, however, brought him into direct conflict with politicians within the APC who believe elected governors should retain control of their respective party structures.

    The disagreement has become particularly pronounced in recent weeks, with Wike accusing some APC governors of working against him, specifically naming Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

    Wike has also promoted the “Rainbow Coalition”, a cross-party political arrangement designed to mobilise support for Tinubu beyond the formal APC structure. His argument is that politicians should be free to support the President at the presidential level while backing candidates of their choice in state and other elections.

    However, that proposition has proved difficult for APC governors to accept. Reading the resolutions of the Progressives Governors Forum a few days ago, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Uzodimma, declared that the governors unanimously resolved not to have anything to do with the Rainbow Coalition.

    “The forum unanimously resolved that its members won’t participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.

    “In other words, the forum has no intention of supporting anybody at any level, that’s not an APC candidate because our candidates are being sponsored by our party. The governors affirm that commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates.

    “Any arrangement that can create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests will not be entertained. All levels of the party campaign architectures must align with the expectations of Mr President and objectives of the APC,” the APC governors’ bloc maintained.

    However, Wike has reiterated that his support for the reelection of President Tinubu remained sacrosanct, saying he never promised that the PDP will not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections. He also said that Tinubu knew about the rainbow coalition.

    But the position exposed a central fault line between Wike and the governors. While the minister’s immediate political objective appears to be Tinubu’s re-election, he does not appear willing to subordinate his wider political network to the APC’s candidates in every state.

    According to the source, it is this brewing chaos that Tinubu is seeking to nip in the bud by quickly streamlining the role that Wike, who has become his close ally, should play in the upcoming presidential polls.

    The former Rivers governor’s relationship with Tinubu dates back to the 2023 election, when he and four other aggrieved PDP governors refused to support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The group, popularly known as the G5, demanded that the PDP resolve its internal zoning and power-sharing disputes before the election. Wike subsequently supported Tinubu, despite remaining in the PDP.

    Since Tinubu assumed office, the relationship has deepened. The President appointed Wike as FCT minister, making him one of the most prominent opposition-party politicians serving in the federal cabinet.

    Wike has since defended the administration’s policies, promoted federal projects in the FCT and repeatedly campaigned for Tinubu’s re-election.

    In Rivers, he has also argued that Tinubu has demonstrated sufficient commitment to the state to deserve the support of its people. But his growing proximity to Tinubu has not translated into an uncomplicated relationship with the APC establishment.

    Similarly, the proposed campaign coordination role is expected to navigate an unusual arrangement in which the current governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor are members of ‘different’ political parties but are both aligned with the same presidential candidate.

    Sources said the proposed structure was intended to reduce this ambiguity by defining Wike’s responsibility around Tinubu’s presidential vote rather than handing him control of the APC’s wider state organisation.

    As the minister responsible for the federal capital, Wike has developed a highly visible political and administrative profile there and has already declared that he would personally coordinate efforts to secure Tinubu’s victory in the territory.

    Although it has become a tradition that ruling parties lose the seat of power during presidential polls, Wike has promised to reverse the trend in the coming presidential election.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is being tipped for a prominent spokesperson role in the campaign. A versatile campaigner whose experience in presidential campaign remains second to none in the landscape.

    He has been a thorn in the flesh of opposition figures, describing them as lacking direction, coordination and the gravitas to oust Tinubu.

    Keyamo brings considerable campaign communication experience to the emerging structure. He served as a spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and previously played a senior communications role in Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.

    His experience has also extended beyond electioneering into government, having served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment under Buhari before becoming the current Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development under Tinubu.

    Keyamo’s possible return to the frontline campaign communications team is therefore expected to provide continuity with the President’s previous campaigns, while putting one of the administration’s most experienced political communicators at the centre of the campaign’s public messaging, it was gathered. THISDAY

  • APC Chairmanship Candidate Pushes Grassroots Agenda During Stakeholders’ Engagement

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmanship Candidate for Nkanu East Local Government Area, Hon. Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, has intensified his engagement with stakeholders across the area, holding discussions on issues affecting the people and communities of Nkanu East.

    The stakeholder meeting which was held ahead of the campaign’s grand finale on Monday, September 21, 2026, provided an avenue for frank discussions on matters of community development, the concerns of residents and the collective path towards advancing the interests of the local government.

    Ogbuekwe, speaking after the meeting, expressed appreciation to the stakeholders for their contributions, wisdom and commitment, describing their participation as valuable to the ongoing grassroots engagement.

    He stressed the importance of remaining connected to the grassroots, noting that regular interaction with community stakeholders provides an avenue to better understand the aspirations and concerns of the people.

    According to him, the progress of Nkanu East requires collective responsibility, sustained dialogue and a shared commitment to the wellbeing of its communities.

    The Mmiri Oma Na Nkanu candidate said the engagement had further strengthened his resolve to work collaboratively with stakeholders and residents in pursuit of the development of Nkanu East.

    He reiterated his message of collective action, declaring: “Together, we move forward. Tomorrow Is Here!”

    The meeting is part of Ogbuekwe’s continuing stakeholder and grassroots engagements ahead of the Nkanu East chairmanship election.

  • Enugu LG Polls: Obuoffia, Akpugo 2 Endorse Ogbodo, APC Candidates

    Enugu LG Polls: Obuoffia, Akpugo 2 Endorse Ogbodo, APC Candidates

    …John Ogbodo is one of the best performing Chairmen – Gov. Mbah

    Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the September 26 Enugu State local government elections received further endorsements in Nkanu West Local Government Area as stakeholders in Obuoffia and Akpugo Ward 2 declared support for Executive Chairman and chairmanship candidate, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, and other party candidates.

    The endorsements were made during the “Beyond Expectations” campaign train’s engagements in the communities, culminating in a grand finale at Akpugo Ward 2.

    Obuoffia

    In Obuoffia, stakeholders pledged the ward’s support for all APC candidates, with the Chairman of the Nkanu West Traditional Rulers Council and Obuoffia Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Eze Barr. Igwesi Obi Igwesi, describing the choice of Governor Peter Mbah as one without a credible alternative.

    Igwesi said Obuoffia remained willing to demonstrate its solidarity with the governor, while also urging residents to support the APC candidates in the local government election.

    A former member of the House of Representatives and Enugu State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi, also expressed support for the APC candidates.

    He said Mbah would be re-elected in 2027 and urged the people to vote for President Tinubu as well.

    Another stakeholder, Owelle Steve Avah, called on Ogbodo to convey the gratitude of Obuoffia residents to Governor Mbah over what he described as the governor’s numerous infrastructural interventions in the ward.

    Avah said the September 26 election would provide an opportunity for the people to reciprocate the support, saying:

    “Chairman, the coming election for Local Government is our own way to pay you back.

    “We have nothing much to say other than to ask God to help you, Obuoffia will help you, Nkanu will help you, Nigeria will help you”.

    The State Deputy Youth Leader of the APC, Ogonna Aneke, also declared support for Mbah and the party’s candidates, citing what he described as extensive development across Enugu State.

    Similarly, the Secretary of Nkanu West LGA, Onochie Jon-Igwesi, said past political developments had shown that Mbah had prevailed in situations where he was underestimated.

    Tracing the governor’s political journey from his former party, Jon-Igwesi expressed confidence that Mbah would again overcome his critics and secure a second term in 2027.

    Akpugo Ward 2 rally

    At the grand finale of the campaign in Akpugo Ward 2, Ogbodo, who is the incumbent Executive Chairman of Nkanu West LGA and APC chairmanship candidate, appealed to the people to support the governor and the party’s candidates in the election.

    Ogbodo said Akpugo Ward 2 comprises Ndiagu Obuno and Obununo communities and noted that no previous chairman of Nkanu West had come from the area before Mbah supported his emergence.

    “Since the start of politics, no Chairman of Nkanu West LGA has ever come from here until His Excellency graciously found me worthy, and with the support of the people, I became council chairman,” he said.

    He thanked the people for what he described as their recognition of his administration’s work across Nkanu West and appealed to them to extend their gratitude to Mbah.

    Ogbodo also highlighted infrastructure and education projects in the area, including the road linking Amodu, Akpugo, Akpawfu and Amagunze.

    According to him, the road had previously posed difficulties for residents, particularly during burial ceremonies, when ambulances reportedly stopped at a bridge and corpses were carried by hand to burial venues because of the condition of the road.

    He said the situation had changed following the ongoing road construction.

    Ogbodo further said all the Smart Schools in Nkanu West had been onboarded and equipped with modern facilities, including computers, interactive boards, boreholes and lighting.

    “So, we are eagerly waiting for January and February to reciprocate the hard work of His Excellency and all the APC candidates,” he said.

    Representing Governor Mbah at the rally, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, urged residents to vote for Ogbodo and his running mate on September 26.

    “We have only one person to vote for on September 26, John Ogbodo and his deputy,” Onyia said.

    He said he was at the rally to represent the governor and demonstrate the state government’s support for Ogbodo, whom he described as “one of the most performing mayor in Enugu State today.”

    “We fully endorse Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for 2027 because he has done a lot of work and we’re sure that he will do more. Anyone that wants to be Governor of Enugu State will have to wait after his tenure,” he said.

    The SSG further told the gathering that aspirants interested in the governorship from Nkanu West would have to wait, saying, “I know that there are people vying for Governorship in Nkanu West but there is no vacancy there.”

    Several speakers in Obuoffia and Akpugo highlighted infrastructure and education projects in the area as the reasons for their support.

    The campaign ended with APC stakeholders and supporters reaffirming their support for Ogbodo and other party candidates ahead of the September 26 local government election.

  • 2027: Appeal Court Upholds NDC Registration as Political Party

    2027: Appeal Court Upholds NDC Registration as Political Party

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress as a political party, overturning a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja, Kogi State, which had nullified its registration.

    The appellate court reached the decision in a split judgment, with two members of the three-member panel ruling in favour of the NDC and one dissenting.

    Justices Mohammed Danjuma and Muslim Sule Hassan, who formed the majority, set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of the NDC.

    The majority held that the Lokoja court erred by revisiting its own earlier judgment of December 10, 2025, which had directed INEC to register the NDC as a political party.

    The appellate court described the lower court’s action as an abuse of judicial power and hierarchy.

    The judgment also rejected a dispute over the NDC’s logo, which an association operating under the name Peace Movement Party had claimed belonged to it.

    The appeal followed a ruling by Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which had set aside the court’s earlier decision directing INEC to recognise and register the NDC.

    The reversal followed an application by the Peace Movement Party, which argued that it had a legal interest in the matter but was not joined in the original proceedings.

    Justice Dashen had agreed with the argument and held that all parties with an interest in the case ought to have been given an opportunity to participate before the earlier order was made.

    The Federal High Court consequently ordered that the matter be heard afresh with the relevant parties properly joined.

    Dissatisfied with the decision, the NDC appealed to the Court of Appeal.

    In the latest ruling, the majority allowed the party’s appeal and restored the effect of the earlier judgment recognising its registration.

    However, Justice Okon Abang, the third member of the panel, dissented.

    In his judgment, Abang upheld the Federal High Court’s position, holding that there was no basis to fault the lower court’s decision and that it had acted in accordance with the principles of justice and fair hearing.

    The ruling comes as the NDC prepares for the 2027 general elections, having already nominated candidates for the polls.

    The judgment provides the latest development in the legal dispute over the party’s registration, which began with the Federal High Court’s December 2025 order directing INEC to register the NDC.

  • 2027: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Unveils 59-Member Campaign Council

    2027: Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Unveils 59-Member Campaign Council

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement has constituted a 59-member Presidential Campaign Council as it steps up preparations for the 2027 general elections.

    The council, unveiled on Thursday, comprises zonal and state coordinators, as well as directors overseeing mobilisation, women affairs, strategy, security, legal affairs, administration, procurement, information technology and other areas.

    The structure covers Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, with coordinators appointed for the 36 states.

    John Ughulu, the movement’s Director-General, will lead the campaign council as Director-General, while National Secretary Saadatu Sani is also part of the leadership.

    The six zonal coordinators are Suleiman Abubakar for the North-Central, Hashimu Dungurawa for the North-West, Amadu Gwambe for the North-East, Dr Adebayo Adefolaseye for the South-West, Christopher Ighodaro for the South-South and El-Shaddai Ikeh for the South-East.

    The movement also appointed Ibrahim Jabir as coordinator for the Federal Capital Territory, alongside coordinators for the 36 states.

    Other members of the campaign council include Sabo Gashua as Director of Grassroots Mobilisation, Glory Adayi as Director of Women Affairs, Kabir Yahaya as Director of Contact and Engagement, and Abdumumini Tijjani as Director of Mobilisation.

    Yusuf Mani was appointed Director of Special Duties, while Peace Daful will oversee Procurement. Prof Charles Nwekeaku was named Director of South-Eastern Town Hall, with Sunmisola Adebayo appointed Director of Information Technology.

    Kingdom Okere will head Legal Affairs, Abiodun Dabiri will oversee Strategy and Planning, while retired CSP Richard Enemona was appointed Director of Security and Intelligence. Aisha Abdulrahaman will serve as Director of Administration.

    In a message to the newly appointed members, Sani described their selection as a responsibility to serve the country and urged them to take the movement’s message to communities across Nigeria.

    She said the council would be expected to communicate the movement’s message from the state level down to local government areas, wards and communities.

    Sani added that the movement was driven by a national vision rather than the personal interests of individual politicians.

    She said the campaign council would require discipline, strategic thinking, grassroots mobilisation and effective communication to carry out its assignment.

    The movement said the council was established as part of efforts to strengthen its nationwide organisation and coordinate activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

    The development follows the movement’s earlier decision to retain its independent organisational structure rather than merge with another political organisation ahead of the election.

  • 2027: Igwesi Named Enugu Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors

    2027: Igwesi Named Enugu Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors

    Frontline politician and Chairman of the New Enugu Smart City Development Authority, Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi, has been appointed the Enugu State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, in a move expected to strengthen the mobilisation and grassroots coordination of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda in the state.

    The appointment, approved by President Tinubu following his nomination by the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, was conveyed in an official letter signed by the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Governor Hope Uzodimma, which said Igwesi’s appointment was in recognition of his commitment, capacity, and alignment with the vision and objectives of the organisation.

    The letter stated: “This appointment is in recognition of your commitment, capacity, and alignment with the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors. In this role, you will be responsible for coordinating activities within your State, mobilizing stakeholders, promoting the ideals of the initiative, and ensuring effective implementation of programmes at the grassroots level.”

    Rt. Hon U.S.A Igwesi
    Rt. Hon U.S.A Igwesi

    Igwesi, a former Majority Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former Member of the House of Representatives for Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency, will coordinate and supervise the organisation’s state-level activities, mobilise support and partnerships, promote its objectives and values, and maintain effective communication and reporting with the National Secretariat, according to the letter.

    The Renewed Hope Ambassadors, which has its headquarters in Abuja, urged the new State Coordinator to discharge his responsibilities with integrity and diligence and in a manner that upholds the reputation of the organisation.

  • Aisha Buhari Visits Atiku Abubakar

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former First Lady Aisha Buhari has paid a visit to former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar.

    Atiku disclosed the meeting in a post on his X account on Wednesday, describing the visit as warm and appreciated.

    He said the meeting also underscored the responsibility of those seeking a better Nigeria to place the welfare and future of citizens at the centre of their efforts.

    “Today, I was delighted to receive former First Lady, H.E. Aisha Buhari. Her visit was warm and deeply appreciated,” Atiku wrote.

    The former Vice President said the visit came amid growing economic pressures on households across the country.

    According to him, Nigerians are facing increasing costs of basic necessities, including food, transportation, education and healthcare.

    He said the situation had reinforced the need for leaders seeking to improve the country to focus on measures that would ease the burden on citizens.

    Atiku said Nigerians deserved an economy that rewards hard work, creates opportunities and enables families to live with dignity and hope.

    He added that achieving such an economy would require collective efforts to reduce economic hardship and restore confidence among citizens.

    “That is the Nigeria we must build together, a country that works for its people again. We must ease the burden, restore hope and make Nigeria Affordable Again,” he said.

  • Mmiri Oma Campaign Train Sweeps Nkanu East: Four Wards Endorse Ogbuekwe, Mbah, APC

    Mmiri Oma Campaign Train Sweeps Nkanu East: Four Wards Endorse Ogbuekwe, Mbah, APC

    The Mmiri Oma Campaign Council, led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for Nkanu East Local Government Area, Hon. Engr. Mike Chikosolu Ogbuekwe, popularly known as Mmirioma Na Nkanu, has received massive grassroots support across four wards ahead of the September 26, 2026 council elections.

    The campaign train visited Ihuokpara, Isienu/Akpawfu, Amankanu/Ubahu, and Owo wards, where residents reaffirmed their support for Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, APC candidates, and Ogbuekwe’s chairmanship bid.

    Ogbuekwe: ‘Owo Gave Us the Best Governor in Nigeria’

    At Owo, residents defied rainfall to turn out en masse, giving Ogbuekwe, Governor Mbah, and other APC candidates assurances of their support. The reception was enlivened by a colourful masquerade display, accompanied by traditional music and cheers from the crowd.

    Addressing the people, Ogbuekwe expressed appreciation for the reception and acknowledged the community as the home of Governor Mbah, declaring: “Owo gave us the best governor in Nigeria.”

    He described Governor Mbah as an exemplary leader and said he would seek to replicate what he described as the governor’s development agenda in Nkanu East if elected. He also pledged an inclusive administration, particularly in his engagement with women and other community groups.

    The Ward Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Mbah, welcomed the delegation and said the gathering provided an opportunity to appreciate Governor Mbah’s administration. He declared Owo’s support for the APC and pledged continued support for the party’s candidates.

    Hon. James Chukwuemeka Mbah, Secretary, Enugu State Scholarship Board, stated that “the gathering was one for assurance and said Owo would deliver its support for the APC.”

    Deputy Director of the Mmirioma Campaign Council and Chairman of the Enugu State Games and Loto Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, welcomed the campaign train and stakeholders to Owo, describing the community as a strong base of support for Governor Mbah and the APC.

    Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, Special Assistant to the Governor on Legislative Matters and former member of the Enugu State House of Assembly representing Nkanu East, urged residents to support Ogbuekwe, “describing him as someone whose approach and vision align with those of Governor Mbah.”

    Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Enih, called for an inclusive administration with adequate participation for women and other groups, while expressing support for Ogbuekwe and the APC candidates.

    Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Enugu State, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, also urged Owo residents to support Ogbuekwe. He described “the APC candidate as a longtime ally who, according to him, contributed to the technology and innovation aspects of Governor Mbah’s 2023 campaign.”

    The Nkanu East APC Chairman, Hon. Abel Nwigwe, subsequently presented Ogbuekwe to the cheering crowd and handed the party flag to the APC councillorship candidate for Owo Ward, Mazi Adenyi Chukwuemeka Valentine.

    Another highlight came when Master Mbah Francis presented a Holy Bible to Ogbuekwe and offered prayers for wisdom, success and responsible leadership.

    Amankanu/Ubahu: Residents Defy Rain

    At Amankanu/Ubahu, residents defied the rainfall and turned out en masse to receive the campaign train. The reception featured traditional cultural dance and folk music, adding colour and excitement to the gathering despite the wet weather.

    The campaign team was received by political leaders and stakeholders, including Hon. Emmanuel Nnaji, Hon. Ndubuisi Edeh, Hon. Ikechukwu Ubagu, Hon. Nnamdi Nwafor, Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, Hon. Uche Egbo Nwaonu, and Comr. Joe Nnamani, among others.

    Dr. Nwachi, Permanent Secretary in the Enugu State Ministry of Finance, noted “the determination of the people to participate in the engagement, stressing that the rainfall had not prevented them from coming out to receive the campaign team.”

    Chief Hon. Ndubuisi Edeh, Special Adviser to the Governor on SMEs, commended Governor Peter Mbah’s administration for “what he described as efforts to place Ubahu on the development map through interventions in infrastructure, healthcare and education.” He welcomed the campaign train and called for support for the APC candidates.

    The incumbent Deputy Chairman of Nkanu East and APC Deputy Chairmanship candidate, Hon. Paul Okwor, also highlighted projects and programmes of the Mbah administration, urging residents to reciprocate what he described as the governor’s efforts through their support for the APC.

    A major highlight of the visit was the presentation of a ram to the Mmirioma campaign train by former Nkanu East LGA Chairman, Dr. Sam Iyiogwe, as “a demonstration of acceptance and support for Ogbuekwe’s candidacy.”

    Addressing the gathering, Ogbuekwe thanked the people of Amankanu/Ubahu for defying the rain to welcome him and his campaign team. He commended Governor Mbah’s administration and said “the APC had entrusted him with the chairmanship ticket to replicate at the local government level what he described as the governor’s development-oriented approach.”

    Warm Reception at Ihuokpara, Isienu/Akpawfu

    At Ihuokpara and Isienu/Akpawfu Wards, the campaign train received a warm and encouraging reception, with community leaders, party stakeholders, women, youths, and other supporters turning out to engage with the APC chairmanship candidate and members of his team.

    Leading the campaign delegation was Hon. Engr. Mike Chikosolu Ogbuekwe, alongside the Director-General of the Mmiri Oma Campaign Council, Hon. Prince Chukwuemeka Nwatu, Hon. Okey Mbah, Hon. Frank Anioma, and other members of the Nkanu East entourage.

    The Ihuokpara engagement carried particular significance as the community is the hometown of Hon. Prince Chukwuemeka Nwatu, an illustrious son of the area and Director-General of the campaign council.

    The engagements provided Ogbuekwe an opportunity to listen to the concerns, expectations and aspirations of the people while presenting his vision for the development of Nkanu East. He reaffirmed his commitment to building on the development vision of Governor Mbah and “replicating the administration’s development framework across Nkanu East, with particular emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development and security.”

    He stressed that the campaign is ultimately about the people, their aspirations and the responsibility to translate political mandate into tangible development at the grassroots.

    The Nkanu East APC leadership was also represented during the engagements, with the Local Government APC Chairman, Hon. Abel Nwigwe, presenting party flags to APC candidates Nwatu Theresa and Edeh Joseph Ukaagbu.

    Ogbuekwe appreciated the people of Ihuokpara and Isienu/Akpawfu Wards for “what he described as their warmth, trust, solidarity and confidence in the political journey.”

  • 2027: Awkunanaw Traditional Rulers Endorse Mbah for Second Term

    2027: Awkunanaw Traditional Rulers Endorse Mbah for Second Term

    …declare him sole candidate of choice for Enugu governorship election

    Traditional rulers from Awkunanaw cultural zone in Enugu State, under the aegis, “Council/Forum of Ndi Igwe from the Awkunanaw Extraction of Nkanu”, have declared their collective support for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 Enugu State governorship election.

    The traditional rulers, drawn from communities in Nkanu West and Enugu South Local Government Areas, stated their position in a communiqué issued on Monday, following deliberations and reflections on the affairs and development of Enugu State.

    The Council said it acknowledged the leadership and development initiatives of the Mbah administration, particularly in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, economic development, revenue generation and transportation.

    It also recognised what it described as the direction of the present administration and efforts to reposition the State for sustainable growth and development.

    The traditional rulers said this informed their recognition of the need for continuity in governance, particularly where ongoing programmes, reforms and development initiatives should be allowed to mature and deliver their full benefits.

    “Following extensive deliberation and consultation among the Royal Fathers, we hereby state, in unison and without equivocation, our collective support for the re-election bid of His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, as Governor of Enugu State,” they stated.

    According to the communiqué, the position reflected the “collective will and resolution” of the Council/Forum of Ndi Igwe from the Awkunanaw Extraction of Nkanu.

    The Council subsequently endorsed Mbah for re-election in 2027, stating: “We stand together in support of His Excellency, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as our sole candidate of choice for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Enugu State.”

    It further stated: “Our endorsement is based on our assessment of the direction of governance, the development witnessed across the State, and our conviction that continuity will allow the administration to consolidate its programmes and further advance the State.”

    The traditional rulers also reaffirmed their responsibility as custodians of their respective communities to listen to their people, articulate their concerns and support initiatives that promote peace, development, prosperity and the wellbeing of Ndi Enugu.

    They pledged to continue engaging constructively with the Enugu State Government and communicating the concerns and aspirations of their communities through appropriate channels.

    The communiqué was signed on behalf of the Council/Forum by 17 traditional rulers from the zone, namely HRH Igwe Daniel Nnamani of Amechi Uno Awkunanaw; Igwe Linus Okafor of Obeagu Uno; Igwe Greg Ugwu of Attakwu Akegbe Awkunanaw; Igwe Obiora Igweshi of Omuohа Obuofia Awkunanaw; Igwe Raymond Agwa of Akegbe Ugwu Awkunanaw; Igwe Mike Nnukwu of Obeagu Awkunanaw; Igwe Okechukwu Nwobodo of Umuatugbuoma Akegbe Awkunanaw; and Igwe Ignatius Ugwu of Amagu Akegbe Awkunanaw.

    Others are Igwe Felix Nwobodo Ani of Ndiagu Obuofia Awkunanaw; Igwe Bernerd Nwoye of Akwuke Awkunanaw; Igwe Cyprian Ekwomchi of Akwukwu Uwani Awkunanaw; Igwe John Ngene Omedoaku of Amechi Awkunanaw; Igwe Chinedu Nwobodonyia of Ugwuaji Awkunanaw; Igwe J.A. Ogbodo of Amechi Uwani Awkunanaw; Igwe Emeka Ani of Umueze Awkunanaw; Igwe Maduabuchi Ugwu of Okpebe Amodu Awkunanaw; and Igwe Ferdinand Ukwu of Amechi Obuofia Awkunanaw.