…Donates N102m for Mbah’s nomination form

…Mbah flags off 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke Road, others

…Vows to transform Nsukka zone into an economic engine

…Promises seed money to Ogige traders

…Trashes opponents’ one-term promise as ‘counter-intuitive’

Leaders, stakeholders, and people of Enugu North Senatorial District (Nsukka Zone) have endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term in office, citing measurable realities and numerous outcomes of their governments.

The zone, comprising six of the 17 local government areas of Enugu State – Nsukka, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Udenu, Uzo Uwani, and Igbo Etiti – also presented a cheque for the sum of N102 million for Mbah’s reelection nomination form.

They said the Tinubu and Mbah administrations had made unprecedented positive contributions to the growth and development of the zone, listing critical infrastructural transformations and Prof. Simon Ortunaya’s appointment as the first indigenous Vice Chancellor 65 years after the founding of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

This was even as Governor Mbah officially flagged off several road projects totaling about 70km, including the 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke road, and vowed to transform the zone into an economic engine.

Mbah equally promised to support Ogige Market traders with seed money to stabilise their businesses after the remodeling, reiterating that his earlier intervention was with the best intentions to prevent avoidable tragedies.

Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; former governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu; Chairman of the rally organising committee, Chief Ikeje Asogwa; thought leaders, youths, and women groups declared their total support for Tinubu and Mbah during a mega endorsement rally at Nsukka Township Stadium on Saturday.

In an endorsement proceeding presided over by former federal legislator, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, the people unanimously endorsed the President, observing that with the President’s partnership with Mbah, “we who were once far off have been brought near and integrated into the mainstream of the Nigerian project, with all its benefits.”

This was sequel to a motion proposed by the House Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo, and seconded by Hon. Mark Obetta (Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency).

Hon. Agbo listed the resumed funding and ongoing construction of the Oturkpo – Obollo Afor – 9th Mile Enugu Expressway, Enugu – Port Harcourt dual carriageway, expedited work on the Enugu – Onitsha Federal Expressway, the successful concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, the creation of the South East Development Commission, and the recent promise to accelerate work on the Port Harcourt – Enugu rail line as part of the grounds for Tinubu’s endorsement.

Former Governor of Enugu State and Nigerian Ambassador to Greece, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the rally

“Oha Nsukka also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it possible for our state to be connected to the National Gas Grid to unleash our buoyant gas resources and ultimately confirm our status as an oil-producing state for full derivation advantage,” he said.

They added that Tinubu had addressed the decades of marginalisation and exclusion suffered by the South East by appointing several sons of Enugu State and Nsukka into prominent positions Ndigbo were hitherto excluded from.

“Our brother, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, is the current Chief of the Air Staff. Major General Evaristus Ifeanvi Okoro is the current Military Secretary (Army). Major General Valentine Okoro is the current Head of Training (Army). Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.) is the immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff, while Mr Frank Mbah just retired as Deputy Inspector General of Police.

“Others have been appointed and are serving in federal MDAs, including Mr Peter Eze, Engr. Ogboo Asogwa, Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede,” he stated.

Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, in another motion seconded by Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme (Uzo-Uwani State Constituency), observed that Mbah had “demonstrated uncommon leadership, improved security architecture, and massive infrastructural transformation across urban and rural communities.”

He listed critical infrastructure such as the ongoing dualisation of the Enugu – Opi Nsukka Road, upgrade of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) at Igbo-Eno, 102 of the 260 Smart Green Schools, and 102 of the 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, among other interventions by Mbah.

“These are not promises. These are visible, measurable realities. Leadership is not judged just by intentions, but by outcomes. And when a leader delivers, continuity becomes not just desirable, but necessary. Interrupting it now would be like abandoning a harvest halfway through the season,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mbah, who described the turnout as massive, commended the people for endorsing Tinubu, stressing that gratitude is the mother of all virtues.

“Let me take you three years back. You told us you wanted your own as the Vice Chancellor of UNN. So, your endorsement of the President matters because he was the leader who broke this 65-year-old jinx. That is why January 2027 matters,” he declared.

Mbah said he was on course to transforming Nsukka into an economic engine and a viable education centre capable of retaining her products.

He reassured that the dualisation of the Enugu – Ugwogo Nike – Opi Nsukka Road, the major artery into Enugu North and a gateway into northern Nigeria, would be commissioned by October 2026.

According to him, the projects are part of a larger strategy to move Enugu from a $4 billion economy to a $30 billion economic powerhouse within eight years.

“Let me tell you what to expect in the next four years. We are going to move Nsukka from being just a large district on the map to the engine of the new enormous economy.

“We have concluded the feasibility studies, and we are soon going to start the construction of a 135.5km rail line. It is going to integrate the state’s economy and ease the movement of goods and services.

“It will cover several parts of Enugu, including Ugwuoba, 9th Mile, Enugu City, Nsukka, and Obollo Afor,” he said.

He said that impossibilities did not exist as far as his administration was concerned.

“You know the typical thing is that when we made promises, we were almost always scoffed at by skeptics. We were told this was overambition, this is not possible. But I think we have proven skeptics wrong. We have shown that impossibility does not exist in our dictionary. Where there is a will, there is a way,” Mbah asserted.

He, however, stated that his government had determined from the outset to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, “but not at the expense of our humanity.”

He took time to explain that the steps he took on Ogige Market, Nsukka, were borne out of genuine concern and the need to prevent avoidable human tragedies in emergency situations, stressing that “it is extremely important that you know that everything we do, the people are the centrepiece of it. It is not about posturing and not about politics.”

“I know we were misunderstood when we undertook to remodel the Ogige Market. But imagine what it would have looked like if I transformed Ogbete or Holy Ghost with two modern terminals – the interstate terminal and the intrastate terminal – and I did nothing about Ogige Market. How could that have been interpreted?

“We saw Ogige Market as a keg of gunpowder. We were sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
If we did not do anything and we had an emergency situation in that market, questions would have been asked if we had government in this state because there was no way we would have moved emergency interventions into the market.

“But you may already have noticed that we just started doing some shops there to bring back those people who were affected. And we are also going to give those directly affected seed capital to restart their trades,” he stated to loud applause.

Mbah, however, did not conclude without pooh-poohing political detractors, who refer to him derisively as a potential “one-term governor” while simultaneously campaigning for a single term for themselves.

“Someone said to me, ‘you are only going to be a one-term governor.’ Then the same person turns around and tells Ndi Enugu, ‘give me a chance, I am only going to serve one term.’

“Is it not counter-intuitive? Can you diminish one-term government and then come to lie to the people to give you one term?” he queried.

“Enugu is at the brink of a historic turning point. Enugu’s profile is rising. Enugu is that model of good governance in the country today. And, please, do not let anyone steal what trust has built,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Mbah has described the 52.2km Nguru – Lejja – Aku – Akpakume – Nze – Egede – Affa – Eke road as a major economic enabler and corridor.
Flagging off the project earlier, he said, “There is no better enabler or key enabler than roads that will connect communities and connect people to opportunities. That is what we are doing. The stretch of this road is 52.2km, but if you then add the other roads like Amachara to Barracks, from Mechanic Village, and many others like that, we are doing about 70 kilometers,” he stated.

Other speakers at the Nsukka Zone mega rally include the Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Engr. Jude Asogwa; Chairman, Organising Committee, Chief Ikeje Asogwa; former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere; Patron, City Boy Movement, Chief Charles Mbah; APC Zonal Woman Leader, Dr. Oby Ajih; former Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odoh; CEO of Ferotex Construction Company Limited, Engr. Festus Oshaba; Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu; and APC chieftain, Chief Vita Abbah.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, will defect from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) next week, the Kwankwasiyya movement has revealed.

Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, told TheCable on Friday night that the decision was sealed after a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders.

Mohammed said discussions with the NDC have reached “about 90 percent”, with only minor issues left to tidy up, adding that the former governor and Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), will move to the NDC on Monday or Tuesday.

“I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed said stakeholders’ representatives from all 44 LGAs in Kano gathered at Kwankwaso’s residence on Friday around 3:30pm to weigh the options — and, in the end, spoke with one voice.

“The stakeholders have unanimously given him the go-ahead to move to the NDC,” he said.

Kwankwaso, he added, is currently in Kano and is expected back in Abuja by Sunday ahead of the planned defection.

At the heart of the decision is the lingering ADC leadership imbroglio.

On Thursday, the supreme court set aside the controversial status quo ante bellum order in the ADC leadership dispute and returned the matter to the federal high court for determination — effectively resetting the contest without resolving it.

Mohammed said the apex court’s ruling only reinforced concerns about uncertainty within the party.

“If you look at the case referred back to the lower court, it might take time. There could even be another appeal to the supreme court. It does not look feasible to stay there,” Mohammed said.

“The entire caucus voted unanimously that a better platform, not embedded in a leadership tussle, should be used.”

He said while both the NDC and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) were considered, stakeholders ultimately threw their weight behind the NDC.

Mohammed said there are three pending cases against the ADC at the federal high court, describing the legal landscape as too murky for comfort.

He also pointed to the ticking clock ahead of the deadline for submission of party membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as another factor that forced the movement’s hand.

“Staying in ADC at this stage would amount to waiting for Godot,” he said.

Mohammed said the movement also weighed internal dynamics within ADC, including the reluctance among key actors to embrace a consensus candidate.

Since the All Opposition Political Party Leaders summit in Ibadan, Oyo state, late last month, Obi has not attended any subsequent ADC meetings.

TheCable reported that the former Anambra governor was displeased that zoning was not debated at the gathering.

Obi, who has consistently demanded zoning of the presidential ticket since he joined the ADC last year, argues that failure to address equity and power rotation weakens the coalition and fuels distrust among stakeholders.

In April, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the “OK Movement” to mobilise support for a joint ticket of both politicians in the upcoming elections.

Leaders of the movement said that Obi and Kwankwaso sanctioned the idea.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has been honoured with two major awards by organised labour, emerging as the “Most Labour-Friendly Governor” and “Best Performing Governor” in Nigeria.

The recognition came as thousands of workers across the state commended his administration’s sweeping reforms, security measures, infrastructural expansion, and improved welfare policies.

The recognitions were made on Friday at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which attracted a large turnout of workers from both the public and private sectors, gathered to mark the annual May Day and reflect on labour conditions in the country.

In his address, the NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, said the honours were in recognition of Governor Mbah’s deliberate efforts to transform Enugu into a modern, secure, and worker-friendly state, noting that while insecurity and poverty remain major challenges across Nigeria, the governor had “changed the narrative” in Enugu through decisive leadership and targeted reforms.

Nwigbo highlighted key achievements of the administration, particularly the restoration of security, which he said has enabled workers to carry out their duties without fear.

He pointed to the successful eradication of destructive sit-at-home orders and the deployment of real-time surveillance systems, which have significantly reduced crime and improved economic activity over the past few years.

Beyond security, the labour leader praised the governor’s expansive infrastructure drive, citing the construction of Smart Green Schools and Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in all 260 political wards, describing them as “enviable investments” in human capital development.

He also commended the ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects across the state, saying they have improved connectivity and enhanced productivity.

On workers’ welfare, Nwigbo listed several landmark policies, including the implementation of an ₦80,000 minimum wage, above the national benchmark, payment of wage awards for 12 months, and the approval of a ₦32,000 minimum pension, stressing the settlement of pension arrears, regular promotions, and improved allowances for health workers as evidence of the administration’s labour-friendly posture.

Similarly, the TUC Chairman, Comrade Simeon Akaeme, applauded Mbah for what he described as “bold and pragmatic leadership” that has delivered tangible results across multiple sectors.

He stressed that the administration’s projects were not abstract but have directly impacted the lives of workers and residents.

Akaeme highlighted major infrastructure milestones, including the construction of a 40-kilometre dual carriageway linking Nkanu East, Isi-Uzo, and Udenu local government areas; the development of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital for advanced medical care; and the completion of a 5,000-capacity International Conference Centre.

The labour leader also stated that the modernisation of public transportation through the rollout of CNG buses, the construction of state-of-the-art bus terminals, and the soon-to-be-rolled-out taxis have eased movement and reduced travel costs.

In the area of economic transformation, the TUC chairman commended the launch of Enugu Air, the revitalisation of key state assets such as Hotel Presidential and Niger Gas, and ongoing investments in tourism and agro-industrial development, including a 300,000-hectare land bank for smart farm estates across the 17 local government areas.

He further praised the government’s commitment to transparency and digitalisation, noting that reforms in revenue collection have boosted internally generated revenue without increasing the burden on citizens.

According to him, the deployment of a tech-driven security architecture has led to a significant reduction in violent crime and safe living.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Dr. Felix Nnamani, praised the governor for transforming the state’s civil service through digitisation and e-governance, noting that the reforms have improved efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.

He also commended the administration’s strong commitment to workers’ welfare, including prompt salary payments, regular promotions, and an enhanced minimum wage.

While urging workers to remain dedicated and expressing confidence that the administration’s policies would sustain growth and deliver long-term benefits for the people, Nnamani lauded Mbah’s strides in strengthening security and fostering accountability, insisting that the safer environment has boosted productivity and economic activities across the state.

Responding, Governor Mbah thanked workers for their support and reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising their welfare.

Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, described workers as the “engine room of government” and assured that all entitlements would continue to be treated as a first-line charge.

The governor emphasised that his administration’s reforms are driven by a people-first philosophy and pledged to sustain efforts to build a secure, prosperous, and inclusive economy.

He also called for greater collaboration, urging workers to provide data and feedback that would enable the government to address workplace challenges more effectively.