Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Enugu East senatorial zone on Saturday declared support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was made during the Enugu East senatorial zone solidarity rally, tagged “Ofu Obi Rally for Tinubu and Mbah,” held at Okpara Square, Enugu.

The zone, comprising Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas, also donated N300 million to support Mr Mbah’s reelection.

The motion adopting Mr Tinubu as the preferred presidential candidate for a second term was moved by the senator representing Enugu East senatorial district, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, and seconded by Nnolim Nnaji, member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency.

Similarly, the motion endorsing Mr Mbah for a second term was moved by Iloabuchi Aniagu, member representing Nkanu West State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, and seconded by Anthony Mbah, member representing Nkanu East State Constituency.

Speaking at the rally, a former Senate president, Ken Nnamani, described Mr Mbah as a visionary leader with a strong capacity for implementation.

Mr Nnamani said transformative leadership and investment in education were critical to development, citing China’s rise as an example of how visionary governance could change the fortunes of a people.

He commended Mr Mbah’s smart green schools initiative and urged residents to support the governor’s development agenda.

According to him, Mr Mbah has demonstrated the qualities of a leader with clear vision and the ability to execute policies effectively.

Also speaking, a former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, said Mr Mbah deserved another term to consolidate the gains of his administration.

“We have no other governorship candidate in Nkanuland and Enugu State other than Peter Mbah. He must complete another four years in office,” Mr Nwobodo said.

The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said members of the state executive council and political appointees remained firmly behind the governor.

He said the rally represented only a fraction of the support Mr Mbah enjoyed across the state and expressed confidence that Enugu would become one of Nigeria’s leading states under his leadership.

On behalf of members of the House of Representatives from the zone, Mr Nnaji said the endorsement was based on performance and good governance.

“We are here not because Peter Mbah is our brother. We are here to celebrate performance, good governance and transformational leadership,” he said.

Mr Nnaji also urged eligible voters to register and obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier, the chairman of the central planning committee, Chief Okey Ogbodo, called for unity among party faithful and stakeholders across the state.

He urged supporters to remain peaceful, focused and committed to translating the growing support for Messrs Tinubu and Mbah into electoral victory in 2027.

According to him, Enugu State has benefited from Mr Mbah’s strategic alignment with the federal government and his commitment to progressive leadership.

Responding, Mr Mbah expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu East senatorial zone for the endorsement, describing it as a vote of confidence in his administration.

The governor recalled that his administration came into office with a vision to transform Enugu State and create opportunities for future generations.

Mr Mbah highlighted key achievements of his administration, including the establishment of smart green schools, reforms in primary healthcare, the development of modern transport infrastructure, the procurement of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, and the revitalisation of public facilities.

He also announced plans to introduce free school feeding in public schools by September 2026.

The governor thanked the people for their overwhelming support and urged them to sustain the momentum by supporting continuity in 2027.

Mr Mbah advised voters to remain vigilant and make informed choices during the elections.

The rally featured cultural displays from the five local government areas in the senatorial zone.

(NAN)