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Valid reasons Ndi Enugu rejected Edeoga

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Chijioke Edeoga
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By Lawrence Madu

As a supposed lawyer, one would expect that having canvassed his case against the victory of Governor Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 18th March 2023 governorship election, Chijioke Edeoga, would naturally wait for the verdict of the court. But he has, in clear contempt of court, been granting interviews, issuing incendiary statements, maligning Mbah, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others, while also trying to railroad the tribunal.

Edeoga and his attack dogs – Amanze Obi, Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, Dan Onwukwe, Chuks Akunna, Aniebo Nwamu, and Ikem Okuhu, among others – have also been on rampage, befuddling clear facts and categorically ruling on a matter before the court. To them, justice is only served if Edeoga wins at the tribunal.

Apart from their worn out fallacious claims about Mbah’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate, which fell flat at the tribunal, Edeoga and his recruits have been peddling some illogicality to confuse non-Enugu indigenes or residents, who do not understand the dynamics that informed the electoral choices of Ndi Enugu in the 2023 election.

One of such beer parlour arguments is that since LP won seven out of the eight House of Representatives seats and two out of the three senatorial seats during the 25th February Presidential and National Assembly elections, Edeoga could not have lost in the governorship polls. This is a lazy and desperate man’s logic. Dynamics that inform voters’ choices vary from one election to the other.

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Despite winning in Katsina State in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential elections, Muhammadu Buhari’s wide cult followership in the North could not help the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) win the governorship seat in those election cycles.

The PDP lost the three senatorial seats and eight House of Representative seats in Adamawa State in 2019, but Ahmadu Fintiri still won the governorship election. In the same 2019, PDP won just one out of the 14 House of Representatives seats and lost the three senatorial seats in Oyo State. Yet Seyi Makinde won the governorship election. And he was re-elected in 2023 despite PDP securing only three of the 14 House of Representatives seats and losing the three senatorial seats again.

Way back in 1992, Sir Michael Otedola won the Lagos governorship election on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) despite having no Member in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has occupied the Anambra State Government House since the years of Peter Obi, but always struggles to win National Assembly seats.

It is hypocritical to ascribe the electoral tsunami that happened in Enugu State and other South Eastern states on 25th February to the popularity of the LP candidates, who, by the way, were mostly PDP members who lost out in the PDP primaries and ported to the LP. Truth is that Peter Obi was the single most important factor that swayed votes in favour of the LP in 25th February election. Ndigbo, across party lines, decided to make a statement by supporting Obi and LP candidates naturally benefitted immensely from that tsunami on that day. The Church, particularly the Catholic Church, and almost every group were in it and people were vouched to vote LP all the way to reduce mistakes that could arise in handling three ballots on the same day. That was how some perennial political never-do-wells like Chief Okey Ezea (Ideke) won an election after 20 years of trying since 2003. I will shortly revisit an additional reason former governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi lost to him.

The governorship election was however a different kettle of fish. First, in an election in which voters had grown weary of perennial politicians, who have built nothing else and have only political offices and patronages to their names, Peter Mbah was in a class of his own. His antecedents and pedigree as an entrepreneur, who would bring private sector mentality to governance stood him out. For instance, you cannot reasonably have a relatively young man, who founded and built Pinnacle Oil and Gas from nothing to the numero uno in the Nigerian downstream petroleum subsector and go for an Edeoga, who has lived-off government as Council Chairman, House of Representatives Member, Special Adviser to Deputy Senate President and President Goodluck Jonathan as well as Commissioner for Local Government and Commissioner for Environment in the Ugwuanyi administration, but has no legacy of development to show for it. It is a fact that Enugu was in its dirtiest state during Edeoga’s years as Commissioner for Environment. Why would Ndi Enugu reinforce failure by rewarding him with the governorship seat?

Furthermore, no one, who watched Mbah’s and Edeoga’s interviews ahead of the election would have chosen Edeoga over Mbah. Edeoga was flat, bereft of ideas on how to turn the state around.

In fact, whereas Mbah launched an ambitious manifesto with clearly stated promises such as taking Enugu economy from the current $4.4bn to $30bn, total eradication of poverty, restoring water in Enugu city within 180 after over 20 years of acute water scarcity, Edeoga repeatedly said that he had no manifesto and did not need one to lead the state well. Who would want to fly with a pilot, who tells them that he has no need of navigational equipment or a defined destination in mind?

Also, although denomination has played no significant role in the emergence of governors of Enugu State, Edeoga, who is an Anglican shot himself in the foot by introducing religion, berating Anglican leaders like Bishops Emmanuel Chukwuma, Onyeka Onyia, etc. for betraying the Anglican faith by supporting Mbah, who is a Catholic. For instance, on 4th March, an online medium quoted him as saying, “Be it known unto us today that an Anglican has never been governor of Enugu State; all the past governors were either Catholic or Methodist adherents, who conspired with Pentecostal churches to marginalize Anglicans”. Therefore, virtually everything, including the Catholic Church, that worked for Obi and LP’s victories on 25th February, made a U-turn and worked against Edeoga on 18th March.

Furthermore, Edeoga and Ugwuanyi’s mother are from the same family in Obolo Eke. Whereas Edeoga’s mother was married to an Eha-Amufu man in Isi-Uzo LGA, Ugwuanyi’s mother was married to an Orba man in present Udenu LGA. Udenu was part of Isi-Uzo LGA until 1981. Yet the likes of Amanze, Ukegbu, and Onwukwe, who resisted Rochas Okorocha’s attempt to handover to his son-in-law in their state, Imo, feel it does not matter if cousin succeeds another cousin in Enugu. Hypocrisy!

It is noteworthy that although Isi-Uzo was carved into Enugu East senatorial zone from the old Nsukka zone during the transition to civilian rule, Edeoga did not pretend about the fact that he was a candidate for his Nsukka cultural zone rather than his new geopolitical zone, Enugu East. He concentrated his campaign in the old Nsukka zone and capped it up by picking a running mate from Enugu West zone instead of Nsukka zone as Chimaroke did in 1999 and 2003.

It is equally a fact that long before the primaries, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Dr. Okwy Nwodo, Chief Okey Ezea, etc. openly campaigned that Ugwuanyi’s successor must come from the old Nsukka zone, giving it a straight 16 years against the existing zoning principle. For instance, addressing Nsukka people after his 25th February victory, Senator Ezea said on camera: “The March 11th (governorship) election is a straight fight between Nsukka and Nkanu…. So, you must prepare very well. You must make sure the directive goes round. This is about Nsukka. Young men, please, you must prepare yourselves very well. We are going into a war on March 11th and it is a do or die affair”.

This singular comment, which went viral was not also condemned by Edeoga and became an eye-opener to the rest of the state, who thought they were doing Obidient Movement with Edeoga on the platform of the LP. It became clear that it was about political hegemony and perpetual subjugation of the rest of the state by Edeoga and some Nsukka irredentists. What an effrontery, even after the last administration literally concentrated development projects and appointments in the old Nsukka zone!

Nevertheless, Edeoga and his few Nsukka irredentists made sure that Ugwuanyi lost his senate bid. But contrary to claims by Edeoga’s hatchet writers and analysts, Ugwuanyi’s electoral defeat was not about LP’s popularity. It was about the Peter Obi factor and Ugwuanyi’s “capital sin” of refusing to truncate the zoning arrangement by handing power to a fellow Nsukka man and cousin. Indeed, Ugwuanyi’s loss was an act of ingratitude and wickedness for which Edeoga and his cohorts should be ashamed of after benefitting so much from the former governor. Edeoga served as Commissioner for the entire eight years of Ugwuanyi.

Lastly Edeoga is married to Nkechi, daughter of Grace Obayi, elder sister of Chief Nnia Nwodo and former governor Okwesilieze Nwodo. Every rational person an Edeoga governorship was tantamount to letting the Nwodo dynasty into the Lion Building through the back door.

Edeoga’s writers and analysts should understand that the 2023 governorship battle has been lost and won and no amount of propaganda and desperation can change it. Tomorrow is already here and Ndi Enugu can see the difference Mbah is making in a few months.

• Madu writes from Oji River, Enugu State

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2027: ‘Peter Obi must not die’ — Igbo Group warns of catastrophic consequences

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Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of NDC
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Njiko Igbo Forum, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a stern warning ahead of the 2027 general elections, cautioning that it will be catastrophic should anything happen to Mr Peter Obi.

It could be recalled that Obi, on Wednesday, raised the alarm that his life was under threat.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, raised fears that he may not be alive in 2027 to be part of the election.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Rev Dr Okechukwu Christopher Obioha, Leader, Njiko Igbo Forum Nigeria, he warned that should anything happen to Obi or he was not in the ballot, the reaction and result would be very catastrophic.

Obioha said the caution was part of the decision taken during an emergency meeting held today, Thursday, in Enugu.

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The Forum said, “That we have seen the viral video made by His Excellency, Mr Peter Gregory Obi, speaking on a number of issues, he expressed serious concern that his life is in danger.

“For him to have gone to the extent of saying he might not be alive before the 16th of January 2027, speaks volumes both in our polity and in the country at large.

“We have seen him in the past, spoke about the federal government trying to frustrate and targeting him not to be in the ballot.

“We have also observed over a period of time that the presidency or the federal government led by President Tinubu does not want Peter Obi to be in the ballot.”

While drawing the attention of the Presidency, Nigeria and the world to those allegations, Njiko Igbo Forum declared that “if anything happens to Mr Peter Gregory Obi or finally his name is not in the ballot for the 16th January, 2026 presidential election, the reaction and result will be very catastrophic and may adversely affect the continued unity in diversity of this country Nigeria.”

It further stated that the Igbo had been very quiet, pushed to the wall, segregated against, marked out everywhere, chased about and even tried to take their possessions.

Njiko Igbo Forum cautioned that keeping quiet does not mean the Igbo are cowards.

It said the ruling government should not forget that for any democracy to thrive, there must be a viral opposition in the polity.

“There is no reason, for what we have seen in the process or polity in trailing Peter Obi and going to an extent of chasing him through all the political parties and now wanting to kill him.

“This outcry by Mr Peter Gregory Obi, must not be taken lightly and request as a matter of urgent National importance, that an urgent investigation panel be constituted to verify Mr Peter Obi’s allegations.

“We are strongly stating again that, nothing should happen to Mr Peter Gregory Obi.

“Yes, Chief Awolowo said, before Nigeria he was of the Yoruba Nation. The same way we are saying before Peter Obi is of Nigeria, he is of the Igbo.

“Mr Peter Gregory Obi will live and become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027,” it declared.

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I might not be alive to contest in 2027 – Peter Obi raises alarm over threats to his life

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Peter Obi not arrested by DSS – Aide
Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate
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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cried out over alleged threat to his life.

Obi, who is a major contender ahead of the 2027 presidential election said he might not be alive to participate in the election.

According to him, there is obvious attack on everything that had to do with him, including his life.

The former Anambra state governor made the allegation during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo.

“The way they are going now I might not be alive,  I’m telling you every single thing I do for a living this government is frustrating it deliberately so.

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“Everything, so there’s even a possibility if they have opportunity I will not be alive. I get frustrations every day because you do things that may think it may be normal it is not normal they won’t come directly and say oh we are doing this but you could see their hand in eventually everything.

“The government is attacking everybody, I am being attacked personally even to provide me with things I am entitled to, not at all,” he said.

He recalled how his vehicle was clamped down at the airport while he was right there, whereas other vehicles lined up on the same spot were untouched.

Obi further that stated that even close associates were beginning to avoid him over fear of government clampdown.

He disclosed that friends now send him invitations for occasions but tell him not to bother attending.

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Voters reward performance as APC sweeps Ekiti, dominates Bye-Elections nationwide — Yilwatda

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Professor Nentawe Yilwatda
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda
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The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the resounding victory of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the Ekiti State Governorship Election and the party’s impressive performance in the recent bye-elections across the country as a clear vote of confidence in the APC, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ongoing reforms being implemented to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth and prosperity.

Prof. Yilwatda stated that the outcome of the elections demonstrates that Nigerians are able to distinguish between temporary economic challenges associated with reforms and the long-term benefits of responsible governance, economic restructuring, infrastructure development and institutional renewal being championed by the APC at both federal and state levels.

According to the National Chairman:

“The overwhelming victory recorded by our great party in Ekiti State and our remarkable success in the bye-elections across the country represent a powerful endorsement of the APC’s governance philosophy. These results affirm that Nigerians appreciate leadership that prioritises development, accountability, stability and the welfare of the people.”

“The people of Ekiti State have once again demonstrated that performance remains the most potent campaign message in democratic politics. Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s resounding re-election is a reward for visionary leadership, inclusive governance, prudent management of resources and visible developmental achievements across the state.”

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Governor Oyebanji of the APC was declared winner of the Ekiti Governorship Election after securing a commanding victory across the state, reaffirming the confidence of the electorate in his administration and the APC’s developmental agenda. The party also recorded significant victories in five of the six bye-elections conducted across various states of the federation.

Prof. Yilwatda, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, noted that the Ekiti result has further strengthened the APC’s narrative that performance-based governance remains electorally rewarding, even amid difficult economic transitions.

“The Ekiti election has become a national reference point. It confirms that when governments deliver tangible results in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, security and social development, citizens respond with renewed trust and overwhelming electoral support.”

“This victory sends a clear message that governance, not propaganda, remains the most effective route to political legitimacy. The people of Ekiti have spoken loudly and clearly in support of continuity, stability and progress.”

The APC National Chairman described Ekiti State under Governor Oyebanji as one of the most compelling governance success stories in contemporary Nigeria, citing sustained investments in road infrastructure, rural development, human capital advancement, healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, workers’ welfare and ease of doing business.

He said the administration has successfully built broad-based political consensus while maintaining a strong focus on development outcomes, thereby creating an environment of stability and accelerated progress.

“Ekiti today stands as a shining example of how APC governments are translating public trust into measurable development outcomes. The state’s progress under Governor Oyebanji provides a practical demonstration of our party’s commitment to people-centred governance.”

Prof. Yilwatda further stated that the election outcomes should be viewed within the broader national context of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, which is gradually laying the foundation for a more resilient, productive and globally competitive Nigerian economy.

“Despite inheriting deep structural challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated courage and vision in implementing reforms that are necessary for Nigeria’s long-term prosperity. The confidence reposed in our party by voters across the country indicates growing public understanding and appreciation of these reforms and their future benefits.”
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“These victories are therefore not only electoral successes; they are validations of a governing philosophy anchored on bold leadership, responsible decision-making and sustainable development.”

The National Chairman congratulated President Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, APC leaders and members in Ekiti State and across the federation, as well as all candidates who emerged victorious in the bye-elections.

He also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the election.

Prof. Yilwatda assured Nigerians that the APC would remain focused on delivering good governance at all levels and deepening democratic dividends for citizens across the country.

“Our message to Nigerians is simple: we have heard your voices, we appreciate your confidence and we shall continue to justify the trust you have placed in our party through impactful governance, economic renewal and inclusive national development.”

“The APC remains committed to building a stronger, more prosperous and more united Nigeria. The victories recorded in Ekiti and the bye-elections reinforce our resolve to work even harder in service to the Nigerian people.”

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