As the 2027 general elections draw closer, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has officially launched a new political platform named ‘The Progressives Group’, aimed at sustaining his political structure and fostering good governance in the state.
The group was formally unveiled during a well-attended event in Nsukka, where its membership was revealed to include politicians from across several registered political parties, among them, the APC, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), among others.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the launch, Nwoye, who recently resigned from the APC, said the new movement was born out of public demand and his commitment to active politics.
“Our goal is to support and promote good governance, particularly in Enugu State,” he stated.
“Since I left the APC, I have been receiving calls not just only from my followers when I was in the party, but from other aggrieved members of various political parties who followed my style of politics and want me to lead them to a new political home.”
Nwoye emphasized that while he had stepped down from the APC, he had not withdrawn from political life.
“And because I have not resigned from active political activity, but only resigned from the APC due to the manner with which the party was being run in Enugu State, I had to listen to those clarion calls, and that is why we are here today to formally launch what we call ‘The Progressives Group.’”
He described the platform as a vehicle for good governance and said it was no coincidence the launch took place in Enugu North Senatorial District.
“We started the movement here in Enugu North Senatorial District primarily because of the progressive nature of Enugu North politics and politicians.”
According to Nwoye, a former Federal Commissioner at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Enugu North was chosen for its historical role in advancing the APC’s early growth in the state.
“We decided to begin the political journey from Nsukka because it was Enugu North that gave the APC the impetus to operate in the state when the party started,” he explained.
“The zone, as at then, paraded APC chieftains such as Barrister Okey Ezea, now a serving Senator under the Labour Party platform, and the late Senator Ayogu Eze, among others.”
Nwoye maintained that the group is non-partisan in nature but focused on policy and development.
“So, we are only interested in pursuing a progressive agenda. We will support any government that is progressive in nature and benefits our people. A government that will drive the development of Enugu State.”
He disclosed that the group already has structures in place across the six local government areas and 105 political wards in Enugu North, with plans to expand statewide.
“We have the leadership of the Progressives in all the 105 political wards in Enugu North Senatorial District and the six Council areas of the zone, with Dr. Mrs. Oby Ajih, the 2023 APC House of Representatives candidate for Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency, and Chief Obodoeze Ocho as conveners, while Hon. Tony Ibekwe is convener for Enugu West Zone.”
Nwoye stressed that the initiative offers a “political home” to individuals who feel alienated by existing party structures.
“With this development, we have given political home to all those that were before now homeless politically across the three political zones of Enugu State.”
“You can see for yourselves the large turnout, even when the invitation was restricted to two persons per political ward.”
Held in Ugwuoye, the University heartland of Nsukka, the gathering drew politicians from various parties and regions. Nwoye described it as a homecoming for politically displaced individuals.
“Our goal is to galvanize our people because the people we organized have been scattered by the oppressive leadership of APC in Enugu State. We don’t want them to go without a political home.”
“Now, they have a political home. With this political home that we have established, we will now move on to Enugu West Senatorial Zone and then to Enugu East Senatorial Zone.”
Due to overwhelming interest, he revealed the venue had to be changed multiple times.
“This meeting was restricted otherwise, here would have been filled with people. We had to practically move the venue twice to avoid gate crashers.”
“Many people have been homeless politically since after my eight years of political journey in APC, so we want to give them home.”
Taking a swipe at the current APC leadership in the state, Nwoye criticized its focus on internal divisions rather than building the party.
“It is quite unfortunate that the new APC Chairman in Enugu State has spent more time suspending and expelling his members, instead of winning new ones into their fold.”
“As I said, what we have done is to practically bring everybody back, everyone who has been disenchanted in APC. Whether you have been expelled, suspended, or whatever, they are welcomed to this group.”
He reiterated that The Progressives Group will not operate as a rival government but as a pressure group that supports development-focused leadership.
“We will not form a parallel government. We are not interested. What we are interested in is pursuing a progressive agenda where we support any government that is progressive in nature, that is benefiting our people, driving the development of Enugu State.”
On which political party the group might align with going forward, Nwoye said:
“For now, we are still studying the political space. At the appropriate time, we will make a public pronouncement on that.”
