By Isaac Mission 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has thrown its weight behind Governor Peter Mbah’s bid for a second term, citing what it described as the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, development and peace across the state.

The state APC chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, made the position known during the party’s campaign rallies ahead of the September 26 local government elections.

The rallies were held in Udenu, Igbo Eze North and Igbo Eze South Local Government Areas, with party members, traditional rulers, market leaders, trade union representatives, women, youths and other supporters in attendance.

Chukwunweike said projects executed by the Mbah administration across the three senatorial districts had contributed significantly to Enugu’s development and improved the state’s standing nationally.

He urged residents to vote for APC candidates in the council elections, describing the polls as an important opportunity for the party to consolidate its grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the APC’s performance in the June 20 Enugu North Senatorial District by-election gave the party confidence that it could secure strong support in the three local government areas.

“We are here to appreciate the people of Udenu, Igbo Eze North and Igbo Eze South for the support they gave us during the June 20 Enugu North by-election. That election was a litmus test for us,” Chukwunweike said.

He maintained that the party had made sufficient progress to attract voters without relying heavily on extensive campaigning.

“Our party has performed to the point that we don’t need to campaign too much to get people’s votes. We’re using this local government election to once again test the microphone for the 2027 general elections,” he added.

The APC chairman also called on voters to support Mbah’s second-term ambition, arguing that the governor should be returned to office based on his record in government rather than simply because governors traditionally seek a second term.

He further appealed to residents to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Ikeje Asogwa, also recalled the support he received from the three councils during the senatorial by-election and urged voters to repeat the performance in the local government elections.

Asogwa endorsed Innocent Ezeoha for Udenu, Chris Onyekachi Simon for Igbo Eze North and Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze for Igbo Eze South, promising that the candidates would provide effective representation.

Members of the House of Representatives, Dennis Agbo and Chidi Obeta, similarly urged residents to vote for the APC candidates, pointing to the development recorded under the Mbah administration.

Agbo said the electorate could use their votes to show appreciation for the governor’s performance, while Obeta praised Ukwueze’s record in Igbo Eze South.

The APC Southeast Zonal Woman Leader, Dr. Oby Aji, expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious, saying the outcome of the election would reflect the level of support already demonstrated by residents.

In Udenu, the council chairman, Aka Eze Aka, declared that the local government was firmly behind the APC and pledged to deliver more than 90 per cent of the votes to the party.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Enyinnaya Ogbonna, said Udenu had benefited from projects implemented by the Mbah administration, describing the large turnout at the rally as a sign of growing support for the governor and the APC.

The three APC chairmanship candidates — Ezeoha, Simon and Ukwueze — also expressed confidence in their chances, saying they had already reached out to voters across their respective local government areas.

Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Ezeoha said the campaign had focused on explaining the party’s programmes and convincing residents to support the APC.

“We have already watered the ground to ensure we win this election. We did that by explaining to the people why it should be APC,” he said.

Businessman Chukwulota Ofo described the council election as an opportunity for the APC to demonstrate its grassroots strength ahead of the 2027 elections, pledging his continued support for the party.