Governor Mbah and Dr. Martin Chukwunweike
The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday elected Dr. Martin Chukwunweike as its State Chairman alongside Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie as Secretary and 35 other members of the State Executive Committee.
The 37-member executive emerged unanimously at a well-attended state congress held at Okpara Square, Enugu.
The exercise was supervised by a national panel of the party and was described as peaceful, transparent, free and credible.
In addition, 15 zonal executives — five each from the three senatorial zones of the state — were also elected.
Addressing party faithful at the congress, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah commended members for conducting what he called a hitch-free and transparent exercise, noting that Enugu had continued to set standards not only in governance but also in political organization.
He said the state’s alignment with the Federal Government had begun to yield tangible benefits, particularly in infrastructure and revenue growth.
“What we have demonstrated here is that we are one big family. The alliance we forged is not one of convenience but of conviction. Enugu remains a model for governance and politics,” the governor said.
Mbah congratulated the new executive and urged them to consolidate on the foundation laid by the outgoing caretaker committee led by Dr. Ben Nwoye.
He also charged them to effectively communicate his administration’s reforms and projects to the grassroots, stressing that no effort should be spared ahead of future elections.
The governor used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, stating that the reforms had increased federal allocations to states and eased macroeconomic pressures.
According to him, the policies had strengthened the naira, stabilized the exchange rate and boosted foreign reserves, thereby creating fiscal space for subnational governments to undertake transformative projects.
“Through connecting to the centre, Enugu has recorded significant milestones,” he said, citing the concessioning of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and its cargo terminal to private investors, which he noted would position the state as a major aviation hub.
He also disclosed that presidential approval had been secured for the completion of the rail line that currently terminates in Aba, adding that the development would advance the state’s vision of a multimodal transport system.
Mbah further referenced the establishment of the South East Development Commission and plans to extend a high-pressure gas pipeline to Enugu within the next 18 months to unlock the state’s energy potential.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, pledged to work with his team to strengthen the party and deliver victory in forthcoming elections.
He expressed confidence that the governor’s performance would earn him a second term, remarking that no governor in the state had served only one tenure since 1999 and that Mbah’s case would follow the same trajectory.
Earlier, the outgoing caretaker chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, described the congress as a testament to unity within the party.
He credited the governor with fostering inclusion and harmonizing former APC members with defectors from other political platforms into what he called “one indivisible broom.”
Also speaking, the APC National Deputy Chairman (South), Chief Emma Enukwu, urged the new leadership to focus on mobilization and vote delivery, noting that political leadership is ultimately measured by electoral success.
The five-man national congress panel led by Hon. Loveth Idisi, with Hon. Tobechukwu Okonkwo as secretary, commended the exercise as credible and successful.
Okonkwo particularly praised the infrastructural transformation and environmental cleanliness of Enugu State.
Dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Ugwu; Senator Osita Ngwu; Hon. Martins Oke; the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Victor Udeh, among other serving and former political office holders.
