By Isaac Mission
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has picked Professor Jehu Nnaji as its candidate for the 2027 Enugu State governorship election.
Nnaji emerged unopposed during the party’s direct governorship primary conducted on Saturday at the NNPP state secretariat in Abakpa Nike, Enugu.
The candidate, an indigene of Amurri in Nkanu West Local Government Area, was declared the winner after no other aspirant entered the race for the party’s ticket.
Speaking after the exercise, the Enugu State NNPP Chairman, Chuba Mgbagbu, described the primary as peaceful and transparent.
He explained that the absence of another aspirant made it possible for the party to conduct a direct primary without competition.
Mgbagbu said the NNPP would forward Nnaji’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the required period for the submission or substitution of candidates.
The party chairman expressed optimism about the NNPP’s chances in the 2027 election, citing concerns over taxation, rising housing costs and the state of roads among issues he said could influence voters.
He said the party had established structures across all 17 local government areas of Enugu State and was determined to win the governorship seat.
Mgbagbu also disclosed that the NNPP would not participate in the September 26 local government elections in the state, claiming that the party did not expect the process to provide a level playing field.
He dismissed claims that the NNPP was predominantly a northern party, noting that its founder, Boniface Aniebonam, is from Anambra State. He stressed that the party has members and supporters across different parts of Nigeria, including the Southeast.
Mgbagbu described Nnaji as an accomplished academic with a strong record of service and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the party into the 2027 contest.
Another party member, Udoka Ezeadachie, also commended the primary, saying members had selected a candidate they believed could deliver effective governance.
In his acceptance speech, Nnaji thanked the party leadership, delegates and members for entrusting him with the governorship ticket.
He promised that an NNPP administration under his leadership would pursue what he described as total stewardship, transformation and a “total new Enugu.”
Nnaji outlined security, job creation, economic development, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, workers’ welfare and local government autonomy as key areas of his proposed administration.
On employment, he pledged to make Enugu a major investment destination in the Southeast and create 100,000 jobs within four years through agriculture, technology, the creative sector and industrial clusters in areas including Emene, 9th Mile and Nsukka.
He also promised free and compulsory quality primary education, renovation of public schools and free WAEC and NECO examinations for indigenes of the state. He added that his administration would improve teachers’ welfare.
In healthcare, the NNPP candidate pledged free medical services for pregnant women, children below five years and residents aged 65 and above. He also promised to rehabilitate primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 political wards.
Nnaji said his agricultural programme would provide farmers with mechanised equipment, improved seedlings and access to guaranteed markets for products such as Adani rice, Nsukka yam and palm produce.
He further promised improvements in both urban and rural roads, while pledging to provide a reliable water supply in Enugu metropolis within six months of assuming office.
Rural electrification also featured among his infrastructure priorities.
On workers and pensioners, Nnaji promised regular payment of salaries and pensions, saying civil servants would receive their salaries by the 25th of every month while pensioners would no longer face prolonged delays in receiving their entitlements.