The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has officially flagged off its campaign for the 2027 general elections, pledging to mobilise support for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah, President Bola Tinubu and other party candidates.
The campaign flag-off, held on Wednesday at the Nsukka Township Stadium, attracted party leaders, political office holders, traditional and community leaders, as well as supporters from the three senatorial districts of the state.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Mbah highlighted his administration’s achievements in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic development, urging the electorate to assess his performance through completed and ongoing projects.
He also accused the opposition of failing to present a convincing alternative, arguing that his administration’s record should form the basis of the 2027 electoral contest.
Speaking about the ongoing dualisation of the Penoks–T-Junction–Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, Mbah said the project had significantly reduced travel time and improved road safety.
He recalled that the journey from Penoks to T-Junction, which previously took motorists considerably longer, now took only a few minutes, adding that the contractor had given a completion and commissioning target before the end of 2026.
The governor also said improved security along the route had helped end the fear and disruption associated with attacks and the enforcement of sit-at-home orders.
Mbah cited the 40-kilometre Owo–Ubahu–Amankanu–Umualor–Ikem dual carriageway as another major infrastructure project, explaining that it would improve connectivity among communities in the northern part of the state and provide an additional route towards North-Central Nigeria.
On education, he described the Smart Green Schools initiative as a strategy to improve learning outcomes and prepare pupils for the demands of a modern economy.
He disclosed that more than 6,000 additional teachers had been recruited and were undergoing training at the state’s Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation.
According to him, the training is designed to shift the education system away from excessive reliance on memorisation towards critical thinking, creativity, innovation and problem-solving.
In the health sector, the governor said his administration was constructing Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, with facilities designed to include accommodation for healthcare personnel.
Mbah also listed the reopening and operation of the Presidential Hotel, International Conference Centre, United Farm Products Limited, Songhai Enugu Integrated Farm and Sunrise Rice Flour Mill among efforts to revive moribund assets, stimulate economic activities and create employment.
He described Enugu Air as part of the state’s strategy to attract investment, tourism and business opportunities, announcing plans for direct flights to London in the coming weeks and services to the United States and China before the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The governor, however, acknowledged that more work remained, particularly in road infrastructure, and reaffirmed 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.
On workers’ welfare, Mbah disclosed that the state government had approved N32 billion for the settlement of inherited pension and gratuity liabilities, with payments of arrears dating back to 2000 already underway.
He also commended President Tinubu for federal interventions in the South-East, including the establishment of the South East Development Commission, regional gas pipeline projects, road infrastructure and appointments of people from the zone to key public positions.
The governor further acknowledged the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms on state finances, saying his administration had leveraged the resulting fiscal opportunities to invest in infrastructure and social services.
Earlier, Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai said the 2027 elections offered residents an opportunity to sustain the state’s development programmes. He also accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation about the administration.
Other speakers, including the Director-General of the Enugu APC Campaign Council, Chief Charlie Mbah; former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo; and APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Ben Nwoye, who represented the party’s National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, expressed confidence in the party’s electoral prospects.
The Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr Martin Chukwunwike; Senator Osita Ngwu; Senator Ikeje Asogwa; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, SAN; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia; and other elected and appointed officials also called for support for the party’s candidates.
With the flag-off, the APC said it would begin a statewide campaign tour to take its message to communities across Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.