The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Traditional Rulers

  • Amupitan Tasks INEC Staff, Traditional Rulers on Credible 2027 Elections

    Amupitan Tasks INEC Staff, Traditional Rulers on Credible 2027 Elections

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called on commission staff and traditional rulers to support efforts towards conducting free, fair and credible general elections in 2027.

    Amupitan stressed that credible elections required adequate preparation, professional conduct, investment in technology and effective administrative processes long before election day.

    He made the call during an interactive meeting with INEC staff in the North-Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of the commission’s nationwide assessment of its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

    The INEC chairman explained that the engagement was necessary to evaluate the commission’s operational capacity and strengthen the readiness of personnel responsible for conducting elections across the country.

    He noted that the commission had recently conducted elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, as well as Federal Capital Territory council elections, without major challenges.

    According to him, electoral integrity must be built through consistent preparation and professional commitment rather than last-minute efforts.

    Amupitan said the Lokoja meeting marked the conclusion of the commission’s zonal readiness assessment, following similar engagements across the South-West, North-West, South-East, North-East and South-South regions.

    He added that the commission was particularly concerned about strengthening electoral operations across the 121 local government areas and six Area Councils within the North-Central zone and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The INEC chairman urged staff to recognise their responsibility in preserving democratic institutions and ensuring that future generations inherit a stronger electoral system.

    He also quoted American statesman Alexander Hamilton to emphasise that democratic integrity depended on consistent implementation rather than temporary enthusiasm.

    Earlier, Amupitan met with traditional rulers from the 21 local government areas of Kogi State, seeking their cooperation in promoting peaceful political activities before, during and after the 2027 elections.

    He explained that the meeting was organised to sensitise the monarchs on their responsibilities in supporting the electoral process and encouraging peaceful participation among their subjects.

    The INEC chairman appealed to traditional rulers to use their positions and influence to discourage inflammatory political campaigns, character assassination and aggressive conduct among political actors.

    He also urged them to prevent politicians from recruiting young people and other residents as agents of electoral violence or destruction.

    Amupitan maintained that the cooperation of traditional institutions and other stakeholders would be important to the commission’s efforts to deliver credible elections in 2027.

  • 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.

  • Enugu East Traditional Rulers Council Rate Gov. Mbah High in Education, Security, Infrastructure

    Enugu East Traditional Rulers Council Rate Gov. Mbah High in Education, Security, Infrastructure

    Doris Ewoh, Enugu

    The Enugu East Senatorial Zone Traditional Rulers Council have commended the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his accomplishments in different sectors, such as education, security, health and infrastructural developments.

    The commendation was part of the press statement issued on Friday, 8th August, 2025, by the Chairman of Enugu East Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Julius Nnaji, after the meeting of the council.

    Igwe Julius Nnaji reiterated that the council maintained the truth that the governor’s giant strides must be told.

    “His Excellency has constantly maintained the social contract he signed for the good people of Enugu State.

    “In the education sector, he’s constructing smart schools in 260 wards in other to promote computer literacy and artificial intelligence in rural communities.

    “In the health sector, he is constructing type two health centers in the same 260 wards in the state and type three in the 17 local government areas to promote the hope of the rural dwellers. His Excellency has also brought peace in various communities, stabilized security atmosphere, disruptive neighbourhood watch and forest guard activities thereby restructuring security within interest to maintain kinetic and non-kinetic welfare and synergy.

    “His Excellency has within two years maintain his blueprint presented to the people of Enugu State without bias to promote the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)”, stated the Chairman of the Council.

    On his own part, HRH F.O Nwatu expressed his appraisal on the governor for the good work he has been doing.

    “Today, we came together to evaluate our governor since he assumed office. This is the first time we are coming out to appraise him and appreciate him because he has been doing wonderfully well in the state and that is why I am happy because the traditional rulers all agreed that our governor is hardworking”.

    HRH Ezeudo Abel Nwobodo also celebrated the efforts of the governor. He stated:

    “The governor is doing well and he knows that the only thing you can do is to give service to humanity”.

    He further acknowledged the advice of the forest guards for traditional rulers to take part in making sure that the forest works well which they have all agreed to cooperate.

    HRH Igwe Barr. Igwesi O. Igwesi, the Chairman of Nkanu West Traditional Rulers Council, averred that the governor is like a good child who is there to work for his parents.

    “There’s no other way to appreciate him but to say he should keep up with what he is doing, that the Lord will bless him. A good child is a child of the community. He’s a good child, a child of the people”, Igwe Igwesi said.