…Declares party set to deliver 99.9% votes for Mbah, Tinubu in 2027

The Deputy Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State Chapter, and Executive Chairman of Igboeze South Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Ugo-Ferdinand Ukwueze, has described the recently concluded APC ward, local government, and state congresses in Enugu State as the best ever conducted by any political party in the state.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu on Wednesday after the conclusion of the exercises across the 260 political wards and 17 local government areas, Ukwueze said the peaceful and transparent conduct of the congresses demonstrated the overwhelming support of party leaders and members for Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as leader of the party in the state.

He noted that the seamless process did not come as a surprise, given what he described as the governor’s exceptional leadership both in governance and party administration.

“The peaceful, transparent, and widely accepted congresses witnessed across Enugu State clearly show that our party is united and focused. From the wards to the local governments and up to the state level, members freely expressed their will without intimidation or confusion.”

“This level of organisation has strengthened confidence in the leadership of the party and reflects the trust members have in the Governor’s vision and capacity to lead the APC to greater electoral success,” he said.

Ukwueze further stated that the party was already strategising ahead of 2027, expressing confidence that the APC in Enugu State would deliver 99.9 per cent of the votes for Governor Mbah’s re-election and for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

He added that the party had elected credible individuals of sound character to lead at both the grassroots and state levels, positioning it for a successful primary process in the coming weeks.

The ALGON deputy chairman also commended the ward, local government, and state congress committees led by Dr. Lucky Ógbè, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, and Hon. Loveth Idisi, respectively, for what he described as their professionalism, fairness, and commitment to due process.

According to him, their conduct ensured credibility, peace, and broad acceptance of the outcomes across the state, strengthening internal democracy and boosting members’ confidence ahead of future electoral contests.

“The orderly manner in which the congresses were conducted has repositioned the APC in Enugu State for greater unity, mobilisation, and strategic growth. It has laid a solid foundation for an impressive outing at the polls,” he stated.

He equally praised the outgoing Caretaker Committee led by Dr. Ben Nwoye, describing it as focused, inclusive, and instrumental in stabilising and rebuilding the party.

He said the committee’s leadership created the foundation that made the smooth conduct of the congresses possible.

Ukwueze congratulated the newly elected state executive led by Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, describing their emergence at the state congress as historic, peaceful, credible, and widely accepted.

He said the development signalled renewed strength, unity, and collective determination within the party to secure overwhelming victories in future elections.

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.

Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has empowered more than 100 constituents with electric vehicles in what observers have described as a pioneering clean-energy initiative in the district.

According to a statement from her media office, the beneficiaries were drawn from the five local government areas of Kogi Central and underwent intensive technical and operational training before receiving the vehicles.

The training was facilitated by professional engineers from the Electric Motor Vehicle Company to ensure that participants are equipped with the knowledge required to operate and maintain the vehicles efficiently and safely.

The project, fully funded by the senator, is aimed at promoting sustainable transportation while creating viable economic opportunities for youths and entrepreneurs in the district.

Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the initiative reflects the global shift toward renewable energy and environmentally friendly mobility solutions.

“The world is embracing cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives. Electric vehicles are not merely means of transportation; they represent innovation, environmental responsibility, and economic advancement for our people,” she stated.

She explained that beyond distributing vehicles, the programme is structured to build capacity and promote long-term livelihoods.

According to her, the hands-on training component ensures that beneficiaries are not only owners but also competent operators capable of maintaining the vehicles.

“This initiative is about sustainability. It is about empowering our youths and entrepreneurs to participate in the fast-evolving technological landscape while strengthening our local economy,” she added.

The senator also urged beneficiaries to observe strict road safety standards and exercise discipline in the use of the vehicles.

“Drive responsibly, obey traffic regulations, and prioritise maintenance. Empowerment must go hand in hand with accountability,” she cautioned.

She further encouraged the recipients to use the opportunity to support their families and contribute meaningfully to community development across the district.

The event concluded with prayers for continued growth and prosperity in Kogi Central, as community leaders and observers commended the initiative for combining environmental sustainability with grassroots economic empowerment.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced a comprehensive revision of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission disclosed that the review process, being coordinated in Abuja under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, forms a key component of its ongoing reform initiatives.

According to INEC, the exercise is designed to strengthen regulatory oversight of political parties, enhance compliance with electoral laws, curb pre-election disputes, and deepen public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.

Central to the review is the alignment of party regulations with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, alongside efforts to address emerging electoral developments.

The commission noted that the technical workshop brings together national commissioners, directors from operational departments, legal experts, election administrators, and other institutional stakeholders.

Participants are conducting a clause-by-clause assessment of the 2022 regulatory framework governing political parties.

INEC explained that the Electoral Act 2026 introduces significant legal and operational reforms affecting party administration, candidate nomination procedures, compliance requirements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the commission’s regulatory powers.

Updating the subsidiary regulations, it said, is necessary to ensure legal consistency and operational clarity ahead of the next election cycle.

The commission also stated that lessons from previous elections are informing the review process.

It cited recurring issues such as lack of transparency in party primaries, membership disputes, inadequate financial disclosures, and limited inclusion of women, youths, and persons with disabilities—factors that have often triggered avoidable litigation and uncertainty.

To support the reform agenda, INEC is drawing on findings from the Political Party Performance Index, a diagnostic framework used to evaluate governance standards and compliance levels within political parties nationwide.

The objective, the commission said, is to move from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision based on measurable benchmarks.

“For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law,” Amupitan was quoted as saying.

The review will also address issues of financial accountability, dispute prevention mechanisms, accurate membership documentation, and structured benchmarks for inclusive participation within party leadership structures.

Technical assistance for the initiative is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in collaboration with Nigerian legal and electoral experts.

The Country Director of WFD Nigeria, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the process as a critical rebuilding of democratic foundations.

Upon conclusion, the exercise will produce a consolidated draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition).

The draft will undergo internal validation before further consultations with the Inter-Party Advisory Council and all registered political parties.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to continuous electoral reform, emphasizing the need for strong, transparent, and accountable political parties capable of presenting credible leadership options to Nigerians in 2027.