Monarch, Nwodo Other Enugu North Leaders Endorse Mbah For 2nd Term

Stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District have endorsed Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for a second term ahead of the 2027 election.

They stated this on Sunday when they paid him a thank-you visit to acknowledge projects across the state and his leadership in the zone.

Speaking on behalf of the zone, the traditional ruler of Edem Ani and Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, and the former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said the governor facilitated the appointment of Professor Simon Ortuanya as the first indigenous Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, describing it as a milestone for the district.

They also thanked him for honouring the late Senator Okey Ezea with a state burial despite his opposition party affiliation, noting that the gesture reflected an effort to promote unity.

They stressed that their visit was based on what they described as verifiable results rather than sentiment, noting that “our solidarity is anchored not on empty rhetoric, but on visible, tangible achievements and evidence that cannot be denied.”

The stakeholders further highlighted the upgrade of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), which now has a teaching hospital, alongside the appointment of 70 professors, as contributing to medical education and healthcare delivery in the zone.

They listed other interventions to include the construction of 102 Smart Green Schools and 102 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in Enugu North—figures they said exceeded those in other senatorial zones—as well as the establishment of transport infrastructure such as interchange terminals in Nsukka and the deployment of CNG buses to ease commuting.

Beyond infrastructure, the stakeholders said the governor facilitated federal appointments for indigenes of Nsukka, as well as the revival of state assets such as Nigergas, United Palm Products Limited (UPPL), Sunrise Flour Mills, and Hotel Presidential, Enugu, among others.

They also referenced projects such as the International Conference Centre (ICC), the ICC Hotel, the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, and the New Enugu Smart City, noting that over 3,000 projects had been executed or were ongoing across the state.

The stakeholders declared their support for the governor’s re-election bid.

“In just two years, governance in Enugu has shifted from promises to measurable results, with Nsukka Zone standing as one of the beneficiaries,” they stated.

Responding, Governor Mbah thanked the stakeholders for the visit and reiterated his administration’s commitment to equity and non-discriminatory governance.

He explained that the higher number of projects in Enugu North Zone was based on parameters such as the number of wards, noting that the zone has 102 wards compared to Enugu West’s 81 and Enugu East’s 77.

The governor said the administration would continue investments in road infrastructure and other sectors, noting that Enugu North is part of his development plan.

“We do what difficulty demands. When we presented ourselves to serve you, we committed to these things, and we must keep to our promises,” he said.

He added that his administration aims to eliminate unpaved roads across the state and disclosed that after constructing about 350 roads in Enugu capital city, over 1,022 roads remained to be paved.

“Next to Enugu city is Nsukka. We are going to conduct the enumeration of all the roads in Nsukka, and we will ensure that we pave all the roads without exception,” he added, noting that road projects were ongoing in areas such as Ugwuachara, Lejja, and Akpakwume-Nze to Aku.

He also said urban renewal initiatives, though involving some displacement, were being addressed through the construction of markets with facilities for affected traders.

A highlight of the visit was the presentation of symbolic gifts to the governor on behalf of the zone by Igwe Asadu, who also announced that the zone would purchase the governor’s nomination form at the Enugu North Mega Rally scheduled for May 2, 2026.

The delegation, led by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, included the former Deputy Governor, Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi; former senator for the zone, Senator Chukwuka Utazi; present and former members of the House of Representatives from the zone; the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ezenta Ezeani; other serving and former state lawmakers; State Executive Council members; council chairmen; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dan Shere; senior government officials; traditional rulers; and other stakeholders from the zone.