…presents Tinubu, other APC candidates to Ekiti voters

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged voters in Ekiti State and Nigerians at large to support President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party in the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda made the appeal on Thursday during an APC presidential campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, where he joined Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), governors and other party leaders to present the APC candidates to the electorate.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman described Tinubu as a performer and reformer whose policies and development initiatives, according to him, had positioned the country for economic recovery and national growth.

He expressed delight at the turnout and reception at the rally, describing the gathering as a demonstration of support for the APC and its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Yilwatda highlighted the administration’s economic and policy reforms, particularly the new tax framework, which he said was designed to protect low-income earners and small businesses from excessive tax burdens while allowing them to retain more resources for personal and business development.

He also identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention aimed at expanding access to higher education and ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent eligible students from pursuing their academic ambitions.

According to him, beneficiaries of the scheme also receive a monthly upkeep allowance of N20,000 to support their welfare while in school.

On infrastructure, the APC chairman cited road projects in Ekiti State, including major connections between Ado-Ekiti and Akure, as evidence of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve transportation, facilitate economic activities and promote development.

He maintained that the Tinubu administration’s development agenda was reflected in practical interventions beyond policy announcements.

Presenting Tinubu for another term, Yilwatda urged Ekiti voters to support the President and all APC candidates contesting elective positions, including seats in the National Assembly and the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

He argued that electing APC candidates across the different levels of government would strengthen the party’s ability to implement its policies and sustain ongoing reforms.

The national chairman further described the APC as a party with an extensive national structure and presence across the country, expressing confidence in its ability to consolidate its electoral strength in 2027.

He called on party members, supporters and stakeholders in Ekiti State to remain united and mobilised ahead of the elections, expressing optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to deliver progress and shared prosperity for Nigerians.

…Governor highlights projects, promises more roads, jobs, infrastructure

…Charges electorate to sweep away opposition with their votes

In the The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State on Wednesday officially flagged off its campaign for the 2027 general elections, with party leaders and stakeholders pledging to mobilise voters across the state for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

The campaign flag-off, which held at Nsukka Township Stadium, witnessed a large turnout of party faithful, political office holders, traditional and community leaders, as well as supporters from across the three senatorial districts.

Speakers at the event described the mammoth crowd as a demonstration of the APC’s political strength in Enugu State, insisting that the party was determined to consolidate its presence and secure victory for all its candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Mbah highlighted his administration’s investments in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic development, and revival of moribund assets and completion of abandoned projects.

He urged the people to assess his government’s performance through its achievements and ongoing projects, noting that the opposition had not even presented any manifesto.

Reflecting on his journey to Nsukka ahead of the rally, Mbah said the ongoing dualisation of the Penoks–T-Junction – Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road had significantly reduced travel time and improved safety.

“I left the office a few minutes past 1pm. It took me two to three minutes to get to T-Junction from Penoks. And it just reminded me of how motorists could have spent so much time, sometimes up to 30 minutes or hours if we did not dualise that road.

“From T-Junction all the way to Nsukka, I noticed that work was going on right left, green, what have you. The contractor assured me that a realistic commissioning date is before the end of this year.

“Another thing the road reminds me is that we have kissed empty Mondays goodbye. Once upon a time, we dreaded traveling on that road because of fear of attack are gone. Today, we have kissed it goodbye,” he stated.

According to him, the administration’s infrastructure programme is not merely about constructing roads, but also about reconnecting communities, expanding economic opportunities and promoting greater integration across the state.

He cited the 40km Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Umualor-Ikem virgin dual carriageway, which connects to Obollo-Afor road as another intervention designed to improve connectivity, and now links communities in the northern part of the state, while also serving as a new gateway to the North Central part of the country.

On education, Mbah said the Smart Green Schools initiative was fundamentally designed to transform the quality of learning and prepare children for a productive future and modern economy.

He disclosed that the government had recruited more than additional 6,000 teachers, who were undergoing training at the state’s Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation, as part of the efforts to move education in the state away from the traditional emphasis on memorisation and repetition towards critical thinking, creativity, innovation and problem-solving.

In the healthcare sector, the governor said his administration was constructing Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, with each facility provided with healthcare personnel and accommodation, including a two-bedroom residential unit.

On economic development, Mbah listed the reopening and operations of the Presidential Hotel, International Conference Centre, United Farm Products Limited, Songhai Enugu Integrated Farm and Sunrise Rice Flour Mill, among other investments, as evidence of the state’s efforts to stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities.

He also described Enugu Air as more than an airline, saying it represented the state’s readiness to attract investment, tourism and business opportunities.

“Enugu Air represents more than an airline to us. It is our statement that we are open for business and we are open for tourism. We are open for people to come here and live.

“So, in a few weeks, Enugu Air will have a direct flight to London. Before the end of the first quarter next year, we will also have a flight to the United States and China,” he enthused.

The Governor, however, acknowledged that more work remained to be done, particularly in road infrastructure, reiterating his administration’s commitment to its 10,000-kilometre road construction target.

“We are not measured by our words; we are measured by our results. We don’t say things that we don’t deliver on. What we commit to, we deliver,” he said.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s efforts to clear inherited pension and gratuity liabilities, disclosing that the state had approved N32 billion and started paying gratuity arrears dating back to year 2000.

He also acknowledged the role of President Tinubu’s economic reforms in creating additional fiscal opportunities for state governments, which he said his administration had leveraged to invest in infrastructure, social services and employment generation.

The governor further commended the President for federal interventions in the South-East, particularly the establishment of the South East Development Commission, approval of regional gas pipeline projects, road infrastructure and appointments of indigenes of the zone into key positions.

He specifically referenced the appointment of an indigene of Nsukka as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, saying the development addressed a long-standing aspiration of the university’s host community.

Earlier, Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai said the forthcoming elections presented an opportunity for the people to sustain the development programmes of the current administration and accused the opposition of disinformation.

The Director-General of the Enugu APC Campaign Council, Chief Charlie Mbah; elder statesman and former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo; APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye, who represented the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike; Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District; Senator Ikeje Asogwa of Enugu North Senatorial Zone; Minister of Innovation , Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN; Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Member representing Nkanu West/Nkanu East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Nnolim Nnaji; Member representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency; South East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Ugwu; and Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Engr. Jude Asogwa, reiterated Tinubu and Mbah’s outstanding performance, expressing confidence that all AOC candidates would succeed at the polls

Meanwhile, with the official flag-off, the Enugu State APC said it was set to commence a statewide campaign tour, taking its message to nooks and crannies of the state.

The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled an operational framework to coordinate its 51 directorates and mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Peter Mbah and other party candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The strategy was unveiled on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following a high-powered meeting of the campaign council’s directors, three zonal secretaries and three Deputy Directors-General representing the senatorial zones.

Those in attendance included Deacon Okey Ogbodo (Enugu East), Dr. Dan Shere (Enugu North) and SKE Udeh-Okoye (Enugu West). The meeting was presided over by the council’s Director-General, Chief Dr. Charles Mbah, while the Secretary-General, Dr. Eric Oluedo, was also in attendance.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the council’s spokesperson, Barr. Steve Oruruo, said the gathering was convened to define the responsibilities of each directorate, eliminate operational overlaps and establish a coordinated structure for the campaign.

According to him, Chief Mbah used the meeting to motivate members and emphasise the importance of commitment, discipline and effective coordination in achieving the council’s objectives.

“The template provided at the meeting is intended to streamline the responsibilities of each directorate, prevent overlaps and avoid unnecessary friction. Each directorate will have clearly defined functions and be accountable for delivering results through regular feedback, monitoring and checks and balances,” Oruruo said.

He explained that the council was deliberately expanded to accommodate a broad spectrum of stakeholders across the state, including influential political leaders, elders, youths, professionals and individuals from different political backgrounds who have embraced Governor Mbah’s leadership.

He said the objective was to build a formidable campaign structure capable of reaching every part of the state and sustaining widespread support for the APC through effective communication of the achievements of the Tinubu and Mbah administrations.

“The intention is to build a massive campaign structure capable of reaching every part of the state. Members are expected to trigger robust and overwhelming dominance of the political space through informed conversation on the flawless performance status of Mbah’s administration in support of the APC,” he said.

Oruruo added that the council was determined to secure victory across all elective positions, stressing that its ambition extended beyond the presidential and governorship contests to include the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.

“The ultimate objective is to bring the different contributions together towards securing a massive and unprecedented electoral victory for the APC at all levels,” he stated.

He said the council would prioritise direct engagement with voters, urging members to communicate the achievements of the Tinubu and Mbah administrations using facts, documented evidence and measurable results rather than emotional appeals.

On the performance of the Mbah administration, Oruruo said the governor’s achievements in economic development and other critical sectors had strengthened public confidence in his leadership and attracted growing interest from investors, including those in the diaspora.

He maintained that the administration’s performance, as reflected in rankings by the National Bureau of Statistics and other credible institutions, had provided the campaign council with compelling evidence to present to voters.

The council comprises 51 directorates covering key areas such as administration, finance, fundraising, public communication, media, new media and strategic communication, research and strategy, election planning and coordination, security, legal services, mobilisation, logistics, welfare, medical services, voters’ education, inter-party affairs, peace and reconciliation, trade unions and market associations, persons with disabilities and non-indigene coordination.

Other directorates focus on corporate and private-sector coordination, parliamentary mobilisation, event management and venue management, among other responsibilities.

Oruruo said the various units were expected to work collaboratively through effective communication, monitoring and accountability to ensure that the size and diversity of the council did not undermine its operational efficiency.

Among those who attended the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; Chairman of the Enugu State Tourism Board, Rita Mbah; Commissioner for Transport, Ricky Agu; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Barr. Ugochi Madueke; and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ngozi Eni.

Other political leaders and stakeholders included Barr. Charles Egumgbe, the party’s pioneer state chairman in 1998 and current Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs; former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Vita Abba; the state APC Secretary, Chukwudi Nnadozie; Ogbo Asogwa; and Joe Mammel.

The council’s Director of Non-Indigenes, Chief Cosmas Agagbo (Okpoka N’Abba), reaffirmed the community’s commitment to the APC and Governor Mbah, pledging massive mobilisation for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the governor’s performance had strengthened their confidence in his administration and provided compelling reasons for the community to rally behind him and the APC.

The meeting was attended by directors and representatives of the various campaign units, who deliberated on the operational framework, coordination mechanisms and the council’s target of delivering an across-the-board APC victory in Enugu State.