The attention of the Enugu APC Campaign Council has been drawn to contrived layers of spurious allegations blatantly spewed against the credibility of the management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu and, by extension, the integrity of the APC-led Enugu State Government through a viral video.

Silence could have been golden, save for the brazen frivolity that characterised the chronicled and dramatized falsehood intentionally deployed to embarrass and impugn the image of the entire state, and invariably validate their next lie in the sequence of street-level mendacities, while an unsuspecting section of the populace may remain confused. Ndi-Enugu must therefore prepare to rise above such barefaced antics, gimmicks and shenanigans from the pit of hell.

We admit that the Social media is a platform that has unwittingly provided countless opportunities for the audience to be mesmerised with scintillating and breathtaking performances while advertising cognitive brilliance and prolific imagination. Yet, it paradoxically affords some of its users the unmistakable luxury of exciting mediocrity and licensed idiocy.

What we understand as a breach or violation of Clause 17 of the terms and conditions of a personal agreement reached with the management of Amadeo Event Centre by one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, a disguised client who paraded himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, in which he assented to the right of the aforesaid management to halt any activity, meeting, or event not conducted strictly in accordance with the stipulated rules of engagement, eventually metamorphosed into an NDC contract to host a town hall meeting at the behest of former Governor Peter Obi.

Instructively, the Amadeo management had since divested and deconstructed the dubious, speedy and strange garb with which the latest in this series of lies were cloaked, lest the public be deceived with the baseless, misleading and ill-motivated circus of freshly conjured lies, or outrageous spectacle of fabricated stories, blatant falsehoods, and disinformation.

However, in a fruitless bid to deceive a highly elitist and intellectually persuaded Enugu electorate, Mrs Ada Ogbu and her dramatis personae threw caution, her pedigree and the pious proclivities of their members to the wind in what perhaps turned out to be muddying the waters of unforced errors. It is therefore not only ridiculously stunning, but defies all imagination, mangles all logics, and belies all credulity that the Senatorial candidate of NDC and her co-travellers would condescend to the despicable level of openly linking Enugu Government to an ill-fated and self-defeatist attempt at surreptitiously hosting a presidential candidate through the cesspit of deceit, manipulation and immorality.
Where is the ecclesiastical rectitude, untainted probity, and self-acclaimed morality that Governor Peter Obi preaches? Have they not been cascaded to Enugu NDC members?

The APC family in Enugu and the teeming supporters of our performing Governor, already armed by the opponent’s innate sophistry in contriving evil, and the frightening frequency of these concocted absurdities by the Enugu NDC, could not have been deceived or appalled by the imputation repressive state influence in a simple case of default in private commercial agreement. Rather, we are condemned to view this latest slant from the precincts of a smokescreen, an unholy prelude and a failed alibi to validate future theatricals and nuisance targeting unsuspecting Enugu voters.

Enugu NDC has failed on arrival. It is almost non-existent in Enugu and perhaps gains its only infinitesimal traction whenever the state government or the name of our erudite Governor is mentioned in its tales of woes.

Enugu State under the enigmatic and talismanic Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been judicially noticed as an epicentre of enduring peace, modern security, exponential growth, sustainable development, serene ambience, and the alluring harmony of a united people. Mischievously linking uncharitable words or deeds, without verifiable facts, to a revered state even the NDC purportedly intends to govern, is antithetical to the minimum acceptable trust values and the widely acknowledged enviable security profile of Enugu State.

A cursory look at the rejoinder from the management of Amadeo Event Centre would easily suggest that Mrs Ada Ogbu (NDC Enugu East Senatorial Candidate) should apologise to Ndi Enugu. Only in her lucid and unagitated moments will she realise how much she has offended the sensibilities and temperament of Ndi-Enugu, famous for their uncanny savvy, intellectual nobility, sublime virility, exquisite power of imagination, and peerless sense of history.

Ndi-Enugu, the 2027 Elections are about issues, ideas and the definitive capacity to deliver. Therefore, no amount of smear politics, incendiary comments, political calumny, or media frenzy can rewrite Dr Peter Mbah’s glowing credentials, deeply entrenched in the hearts of our electorate, who are watching in pleasant shock as the dividends of democracy are being positively re-imagined and re-engineered in their favour.

STEVE ORURUO
Spokesperson and Director
Public Communications
ENUGU STATE APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

…ADC senatorial candidate cites ₦50m social interventions, promises agricultural revolution, jobs, improved healthcare and rural infrastructure

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Dr David Adejo Abraham Olofu, has unveiled a 12-point legislative agenda anchored on People, Power, Prosperity and Progress (PPPP), promising a new direction for the district if elected to the Senate in 2027.

Olofu unveiled the agenda at the weekend during the flag-off of the ADC zonal campaign in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State. He described the 2027 election as an opportunity to redefine political representation and accelerate development across the nine local government areas of the senatorial district.

Addressing party faithful, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youth groups, the former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning said his proposed legislative blueprint was informed by his experience in public service and interventions in education, healthcare and economic empowerment.

To demonstrate his commitment to the welfare of constituents, Olofu highlighted three major intervention programmes through which he said millions of naira had been committed to supporting vulnerable residents, students and young entrepreneurs.

Under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative (ALSI), he said more than 300 students from the nine local government areas had benefited from an annual scholarship scheme providing ₦100,000 to each beneficiary.

The programme, which commenced in 2024, has attracted ₦30 million in funding over three years, according to the candidate.

He also disclosed that he committed ₦10 million in November 2025 to St Helen’s Specialist Hospital, Otukpo, to offset the medical bills of pregnant women from Benue South, irrespective of their religious, political or ethnic backgrounds.

Similarly, through his Wealth and Empowerment in Benue South (WEBS) initiative, Olofu said beneficiaries had received grants of ₦200,000 each, with ₦10 million earmarked annually for five years. He added that rural women, particularly widows, and small-scale entrepreneurs had also benefited from the scheme.

The ADC candidate further disclosed that he had initiated an investment-based empowerment programme through which more than 200 constituents were reportedly supported with credits to acquire 50 units each of Dangote Refinery shares. He described the initiative as an effort to promote asset ownership and long-term wealth creation.

12-POINT AGENDA

Unveiling his 12-point agenda, Olofu identified education, healthcare, agriculture, enterprise development, digital skills, infrastructure, local government autonomy, security, equitable resource allocation and institutional accountability among his major priorities.

On education, he promised to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education, facilitate the establishment of science laboratories at local government headquarters, provide public libraries and expand scholarship, bursary and mentorship opportunities for students.

In the healthcare sector, he pledged to facilitate the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres, improve medical staffing and preventive healthcare services, and expand health insurance coverage for indigent households.

For agriculture, Olofu proposed the establishment of a Special Purpose Agricultural Zone along the River Benue, supported by land development, produce aggregation centres, warehouse receipt systems, guaranteed off-take arrangements and agro-processing clusters across the district.

He said the initiative would help move farmers from subsistence production to commercial agriculture, boost productivity and create sustainable employment opportunities in rural communities.

The former commissioner also promised to facilitate access to finance for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, strengthen cooperative societies, provide business development support and connect rural producers to wider markets.

To tackle youth unemployment, he proposed the establishment of information and communication technology (ICT) hubs and digital skills centres to equip young people with competencies in software development, data management and online business.

On infrastructure, Olofu pledged to prioritise strategic rural and inter-community roads linking farms to markets and communities to healthcare facilities. He also promised to advocate a review of master plans for local government headquarters.

Addressing insecurity, the ADC candidate said he would pursue stronger legislative frameworks and enhanced collaboration among security agencies, traditional institutions and lawful vigilante groups.

He also proposed community-based peacebuilding, alternative dispute resolution, early-warning mechanisms and technology-driven surveillance to address security challenges.

“Security is the foundation of all development,” he stressed.

EXPERIENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Olofu said his experience as Benue State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning between 2015 and 2023, Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners for Finance and Senior Technical Adviser on Fiscal Policy to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum would strengthen his capacity to attract development projects and ensure the implementation of approved interventions.

As part of his proposed accountability framework, he announced plans to establish two non-partisan institutions: the Benue South Peoples Assembly (BSPA), which would aggregate community needs and monitor projects, and the Benue South People’s Council, comprising traditional rulers, professionals, women, youths, religious leaders and socio-cultural groups.

Other priorities outlined by the candidate include industrial layouts, technology hubs, ward-level enterprise initiatives, solar-powered agro-processing centres, renewable energy projects, diaspora investment partnerships, skills acquisition centres and community sports facilities.

Olofu, who described his decision to join the ADC as a choice for a new political direction, cautioned that changing political parties alone would not transform people’s lives without quality leadership and measurable results.

He appealed for unity among the nine local government areas, insisting that no community should be left behind in the pursuit of development.

He also promised regular consultations with constituents, public reporting of his legislative activities and budget implementation, as well as greater citizen participation in monitoring constituency projects.

“Representation is service, not ownership,” he declared.

PARTY LEADERS EXPRESS CONFIDENCE

Earlier, the Chairman of the Campaign Advisory Council, John Ngbede, praised the large turnout at the campaign flag-off and expressed confidence in Olofu’s capacity to provide effective representation for the district.

Ngbede described the candidate as an experienced public administrator with the capacity and track record to deliver meaningful development. He urged voters across the nine local government areas to support all ADC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The ADC State Chairman, Chief Samson Okwu, also thanked supporters for their impressive turnout, describing it as evidence of the party’s growing political strength in the senatorial district.

Okwu, a former three-term member of the House of Representatives representing Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, expressed confidence that the ADC would defeat its political opponents in the forthcoming elections.

In his remarks, the ADC governorship candidate in Benue State, Hon. Heman Hembe, urged voters to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing its government of inflicting hardship on Nigerians.

Hembe also criticised Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he described as the state government’s failure to deliver commensurate development despite substantial allocations from the Federation Account.

He called on Benue voters to support the ADC in 2027, promising a different approach to governance.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Olofu Campaign Organisation, Chief Chris Adaba Abah, urged the people of Benue South to rally behind all ADC candidates in the 2027 elections.

Abah, who hails from Enone Federal Constituency, argued that the senatorial seat had been dominated by his constituency for more than three decades. He called for a fairer distribution of political opportunities within the district.

He maintained that other parts of Benue South should also have the opportunity to produce a senator, stressing the need for equity, inclusion and political balance.

By Nnamani Arinze Darlington

Uche Nnaji,

Your recent political attack video demanding the history of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is noted. Since you have asked, let us examine the history, the journey, the business background, and the record of the man currently entrusted with the leadership of Enugu State.

But before we begin, let us establish one fundamental truth: *it is easy to criticise a governor; it is considerably more difficult to demonstrate that you possess the competence, character, experience, and vision to govern better.*

It is public knowledge that you are currently facing serious allegations of certificate forgery involving the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate and NYSC discharge certificate that you presented during your ministerial screening. Both institutions have disowned the documents. An investigative panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education found the certificates to be forged. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting the matter in court, with charges that also touch on related issues of fraud and abuse of office. You have pleaded not guilty, and the trial is ongoing. These are not political fabrications; they are matters of public record currently before the courts and the Nigerian people.

Until you fully clear your name on these historic and serious allegations of fraudulent activity and certificate forgery, your attempts to distract Ndi Enugu with personal attacks on the Governor only raise further questions about your own credibility and fitness for public office.

Uche Nnaji

The people of Enugu State deserve a political conversation built on facts, ideas, accountability, and measurable results, not a contest of personal attacks.

If your ambition is to lead Enugu State, Ndi Enugu deserve to know what you intend to do differently.

What is your economic blueprint for Enugu State?

How will you create sustainable employment for our young people?

What is your plan for education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, security, and industrial development?

How will you improve the standard of living of ordinary citizens while strengthening the state’s economic capacity?

And what concrete policies would you implement to deliver better results than those you criticise?

These are the questions that matter.

*Political ambition is not a development plan. Criticism is not competence. And the desire to occupy Government House is not proof of the capacity to govern.*

Since you have demanded Peter Mbah’s history, let us put his background and public record into perspective.

MBAH’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Peter Ndubuisi Mbah was born on 17 March 1972 to Chief Gilbert Ekete Mbah and his wife in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. He grew up in a modest family that instilled hard work, integrity, and service. His primary education was at Army Children’s School, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate with distinction and even skipped a class due to outstanding performance. Secondary education was completed at Owode High School, Owode Egba, Ogun State, where he obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate in 1992.

At about age 12, when family finances were strained and further education for him risked interrupting his siblings’ schooling, he chose to leave school temporarily. He was sent to Lagos to apprentice as an electronics trader at Alaba Market. He started small, trading, saving, and learning the discipline of business from the ground up. He later imported Mercedes-Benz parts from Germany, became sole representative for a Turkish company, and built a reputation for reliability and trust in international trade long before any political office.

 His Educational Background

Recognising the value of formal education while trading, he pursued law at the University of East London (UEL), United Kingdom, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in the Upper Division in 2000. At UEL he was President of the Students’ Law Society (1998–99), transforming it into the university’s Most Productive Society of the Year; he served on the Students’ Representative Council and School of Law Board, won the university’s Mooting Competition, and represented UEL at the International Negotiation Competition.

He returned to Nigeria, attended the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Nigerian Bar. He earned a Master’s degree in Maritime and Commercial Law from Lagos State University in 2004. He further obtained an MBA from IESE Business School, University of Navarra (Barcelona, Spain), a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and completed the Chief Executive Programme at Lagos Business School, along with executive programmes at institutions including Harvard and Stanford. In 2021 Godfrey Okoye University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Political Science; more recently his alma mater, the University of East London, conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws.

The significance of this background is straightforward: Peter Mbah’s professional journey did not begin when he became governor. His involvement in business and public administration preceded his emergence as the chief executive of Enugu State.

That history deserves to be examined through evidence, not reduced to political rhetoric.

2. HE WAS A BUSINESSMAN BEFORE GOVERNOR

His wealth was built through legitimate entrepreneurship over decades:

In 1992 he founded Peter Mbah Investments Limited, a trading and oil-and-gas services firm that became the Nigerian representative/sole agent for International Oil Corporation (IOC) of Fresno, California.
Between 1993 and 1997 he founded GILPEL Industries Ltd., importing and distributing general goods and domestic electrical appliances (with significant turnover).
He established Focus International Schools in Lagos — a quality primary and secondary institution reflecting his belief in education.
In 2004 he registered, and in 2008 began full operations of, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd. from a modest one-room office with minimal capital and a tiny staff. Through innovation in petroleum product handling, storage, logistics, and customer focus, Pinnacle grew into a major indigenous player in Nigeria’s downstream sector. It developed significant infrastructure, including an ultra-modern offshore petroleum products intake and off-take facility (SPM/CBM and large storage) in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, one of the notable liquid bulk terminals of its kind in the region plus facilities in Warri, a fleet of trucks, and a network of retail stations across Nigeria. 

This is the source of his business success: starting as an apprentice trader, building import businesses, representing international partners with integrity, and then scaling an indigenous oil-and-gas company through hard work, innovation, and corporate governance not through any public office.

Of course, every claim about business success must withstand scrutiny. Questions about ownership, investments, corporate performance, and the origins of wealth are legitimate in a democracy.

But scrutiny must be based on evidence.

*If you want to challenge a man’s record, bring evidence. If you want to replace his leadership, bring a better plan.*

That is the standard Ndi Enugu should demand of every politician seeking their confidence.

3. HIS GOVERNANCE EXPERIENCE

Before becoming governor, Peter Mbah served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani and later as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Enugu State.

These positions exposed him to government administration, public finance, economic planning, and the challenges of managing state resources.

His subsequent election as governor marked another chapter in that professional journey.

In 2003, after contesting an elective position, he was appointed Chief of Staff to then-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. He later served as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. In those roles he chaired the State Tenders Board, sat on the Executive Council and State Security Council, and contributed to fiscal reforms and strategy documents that guided state development programmes. NewsWatch magazine in 2006 described him as “a man ahead of his time” for his work on the state’s fiscal operations.

Since assuming office on 29 May 2023 under the _Tomorrow Is Here_ vision, Governor Mbah has pursued a results-driven agenda focused on growing Enugu’s economy from approximately $4.4 billion toward a $30 billion target, eradicating poverty, and positioning the state as a preferred destination for investment, tourism, business, and living. Key verifiable milestones (as documented in the administration’s September 2026 scorecard and subsequent updates) include:

A. Infrastructure and Road Development

Over 1,521 kilometres of roads constructed or reconstructed across urban and rural areas, including strategic corridors such as the Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Ikem dual carriageway (a new gateway linking the state northward). Multiple phases of urban roads, gateway roads, and rural connectivity projects continue. The New Enugu Smart City (approximately 10,000 hectares spanning several LGAs) is under development with integrated underground infrastructure for roads, water, power, telecommunications, and sewerage.

B. Education and the Smart Green Schools Initiative

A state that invests in education invests in its future.

The administration’s Smart Green Schools initiative seeks to modernise basic education through improved classrooms, digital learning resources, ICT facilities, and other educational infrastructure.
Construction and equipping of 260–268 Smart Green Schools (one per political ward), delivering over 7,000 classrooms. These feature digital classrooms, ICT centres, robotics and AI labs, e-libraries, solar power, smart farms for practical agriculture, free uniforms, books, tablets, and daily meals for pupils. Roughly 33% of recent budgets has been allocated to education. Teacher training is ongoing through the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation. The schools began full transition for the 2025/2026 academic session.

C. Healthcare and the Welfare of Citizens

260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres built and equipped across all wards, with recruitment of over 2,250–2,500 health personnel to ensure 24/7 service. Construction and equipping of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital is advancing to reduce medical tourism outflows. Secondary facilities and related investments continue.

D. Water Supply

Significant restoration of pipe-borne water: daily production capacity raised dramatically (from low single-digit millions of litres to over 120 million litres in the municipal area through interventions including the 9th Mile scheme and supporting power generation). Reticulation and further expansion remain ongoing priorities.

E. Agriculture and Economic Revival

Development of over 260 farm estates (one per ward) supporting more than 18,000 smallholder farmers with mechanisation, storage, aggregation, and processing. Land banking of hundreds of thousands of hectares. Revitalisation of United Palm Products Limited (major investment, replanting, and resumption of commercial production), Sunrise Flour Mills, Nigergas (oxygen and industrial gases), and other moribund assets. Partnerships for agro-processing and value chains.

F. Transportation and Aviation

Launch and expansion of Enugu Air (growing fleet and routes). Increase in daily flights into Enugu from roughly 2 to 15–20. Construction of modern transport terminals (Holy Ghost, Abakpa, Nsukka, and others). Deployment of over 100 CNG buses (with more planned) and plans for additional eco-friendly taxis. Progress on the concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

G. Security, Tourism, and Other Reforms

Improved security architecture enabling freer movement and business activity. Tourism projects including plans for a major zipline, cable car system, religious tourism sites, resorts, and repositioning of assets such as Hotel Presidential (major renovation advancing) and the International Conference Centre complex (including a new 5-star hotel component). Fiscal reforms have driven strong IGR growth (from around ₦26–37 billion range pre/early term to over ₦180 billion in 2024 and reports exceeding ₦400 billion in 2025). High capital expenditure ratios in successive budgets (often 80%+), Citizens’ Charter (Executive Order 001) for transparency, and institutional reforms including revenue automation and Treasury Single Account.

These are not campaign promises; they are documented deliveries and ongoing projects that the people of Enugu can see and experience. A comprehensive compendium of over 10,000 milestones was publicly presented in September 2026.

The strongest defence of any administration is not propaganda. It is a record that can withstand scrutiny.

5. UCHE NNAJI, WHERE IS YOUR ALTERNATIVE VISION?

This is the central question.

If you believe Peter Mbah’s approach to governance is wrong, what is your alternative?

If you believe Enugu’s economy should grow faster, present your economic model.

If you believe the administration’s education policies are inadequate, explain what you would change and how you would finance those changes.

If you believe the state’s infrastructure priorities are misplaced, identify the projects you would prioritise and explain why.

If you believe unemployment remains a serious challenge, present a credible job-creation strategy.

If you believe Enugu can be governed more effectively, demonstrate how your policies, institutions, and implementation plans would produce better outcomes.

The people deserve specifics, not slogans.

They deserve a vision supported by practical policies, realistic financing, measurable targets, and a credible implementation strategy.

*A serious political contender does not merely explain why another person should not lead. A serious contender demonstrates why the people should trust him to lead instead.*

That is the challenge before every politician seeking the confidence of Ndi Enugu.

6. ACCOUNTABILITY MUST APPLY TO EVERYONE

The public controversy surrounding Uche Nnaji’s educational credentials is also part of the wider conversation about accountability in public life.

The allegations involving his university degree and NYSC certificate have resulted in legal proceedings. Nnaji has pleaded not guilty, and the case remains subject to the judicial process.

The appropriate institutions and courts must determine the matters before them in accordance with the law.

Nevertheless, the broader democratic principle is clear: anyone seeking public trust must be prepared to answer legitimate questions about their record.

Accountability cannot be demanded selectively.

A politician who calls for scrutiny of another public figure must also accept scrutiny of his own background, decisions, and public conduct.

No politician should demand accountability from others while suggesting that his own record is beyond examination.

FINALLY: THE PEOPLE DESERVE SUBSTANCE, NOT NOISE

Uche Nnaji, your demand for the history of Peter Mbah presents an opportunity to have a serious conversation about leadership, accountability, and the development of Enugu State.

Peter Mbah’s professional journey encompasses business, formal education, public administration, and his current responsibilities as governor.

His administration has embarked on an ambitious programme spanning infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and economic reform. These initiatives deserve careful examination, independent verification, and continued public scrutiny.

Where the administration has delivered results, those results should be acknowledged. Where shortcomings exist, they should be identified and addressed. Where claims are made, evidence should be available.

That is how responsible political accountability works.

But the same standard must apply to every politician.

If you have a better vision for Enugu State, present it.

If you have evidence supporting your criticisms, provide it.

If you believe the people deserve a different direction, explain precisely what that direction looks like and how you intend to achieve it.

Ndi Enugu deserve more than a politician who can criticize. They deserve leaders who can think, plan, build, deliver, and account for their stewardship.

The future of Enugu State cannot be determined by who produces the loudest political video, launches the sharpest personal attack, or commands the most attention on social media.

It must be determined by the quality of leadership offered to its people.

The people deserve competence over theatrics, substance over sensationalism, accountability over empty promises, and results over rhetoric.

Governor Peter Mbah has continued to demonstrate that his administration’s promises are translating into meaningful progress. Those who seek to challenge him must demonstrate that they possess a credible alternative.

That is the standard of leadership Enugu deserves.

That is the standard Ndi Enugu should demand.

And that is the standard by which history will judge every politician who seeks their trust.

Ndi Enugu are watching. Let the facts speak, let the ideas compete, let accountability prevail, and let substance prevail over noise.