Enugu APC Primary: Massive turnout across Enugu State’s 260 wards has strengthened Governor Peter Mbah’s path to securing the APC governorship ticket for the 2027 election as party leaders hail the process as a model of internal democracy.
A carnival-like atmosphere swept across Enugu State on Thursday as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) turned out in large numbers across the 260 wards of the state to participate in the party’s governorship primary election, where Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah emerged as the sole aspirant.
Although official collation of results was still ongoing at the time of filing this report, indications from the Enugu APC Primary showed that Mbah was on course to secure the APC governorship ticket for the 2027 election amid overwhelming endorsement from party faithful.
Supporters across the state attributed their backing for the governor’s second-term bid to what they described as his administration’s developmental strides over the past three years.
At Owo Ward in Nkanu East Local Government Area, where Governor Mbah participated in the Enugu APC primary exercise, party members thronged the venue in large numbers and unanimously affirmed his candidature when the electoral panel led by Prince Arinze Arum, Mrs. Ngozi Eni and Barrister Osinachi Nnajieze put the question to delegates and members present.
Speaking during the exercise, the Ward Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Mbah, alongside the member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Nnolim Nnaji, described Governor Mbah’s reelection as crucial for the continuity of development in Enugu State.
Nnaji said the governor had become a reference point in governance across Nigeria, stressing that his administration had transformed the state significantly within a short period.
“I have gone to vote in my own ward before coming here. The same thing that is happening here is happening concurrently in the 260 wards across the state and reports are very good. Anyone who knows the state of affairs in Enugu State before you came in would know that a lot of changes have taken place,” he stated.
“It is not enough to get power. What you use the power for matters more. But Peter Mbah is called the Rock because of how he is using power to do mighty things. Today in Nigeria, you cannot talk about three governors that are performing without counting our own governor among them,” Nnaji added.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, announced the successful conduct of the APC governorship primary across all the 14 wards in the council area, describing the exercise as peaceful, transparent and widely accepted by party members.
Speaking at Agbani, the headquarters of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. Ogbodo commended party faithful for their orderly conduct and overwhelming participation in the Enugu APC primary, noting that the massive turnout reflected the confidence of the people in Governor Mbah’s leadership.
“Today’s exercise in all the 14 wards of Nkanu West has shown clearly that our people are united and committed to continuity. The turnout has been impressive and the process has remained peaceful from start to finish,” he said.
The council chairman added that Governor Mbah’s administration had earned the support of the grassroots through infrastructural development, education reforms, healthcare improvements and economic initiatives across Enugu State.
“What we witnessed today is beyond politics. It is the people appreciating a leader whose works are visible across communities. Our people believe in continuity because they have seen development with their own eyes,” Ogbodo stated.
Addressing party members, Governor Mbah described the direct primary process in Enugu APC as a unique democratic exercise driven by consensus, unity and grassroots participation.
According to him, the peaceful conduct of the primaries reflected the growing political maturity within the party in Enugu State.
“Just yesterday, we concluded the direct primaries of all the 24 State Constituencies. It is interesting to note that of those 24 seats, we did not have any two persons that picked forms to vie for one office,” the governor said.
He further noted that a similar pattern played out in the Senate and House of Representatives primaries, with aspirants opting for consensus and unity instead of divisive contests.
“Today again, I am the sole aspirant for the governorship ticket of our party. And it has not happened by accident or coercion or cowardice. It happened because our people are smart, wise and they know what is good when they see one,” Mbah stated.
The governor maintained that the APC in Enugu State was gradually becoming a model for grassroots democracy and internal party management in Nigeria.
“So, because we have not created division or disharmony among ourselves, Enugu APC is largely becoming the standard bearer of what grassroots politics and democracy should be. We are also increasingly becoming a model of how to manage internal politics,” he added.
Governor Mbah urged party members to sustain the unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that internal divisions could weaken the party’s electoral chances. Enugu APC Primary
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee for Enugu State led by Hon. Danmalikin Hausa, which monitored the exercise across various locations and is expected to formally announce the final outcome of the primary election.
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