From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
There are emerging indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has remained as a silent opposition party in Enugu state, will put up a strong challenge if not the party to beat in Enugu state, come 2027.
The party is gradually waking up from its slumber in criticising some of the policies of the PDP enthroned administration led by Governor Peter Mbah, since the beauty of democracy is said to be lying on the strength of the opposition.
For instance, at the moment, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji and the the current Enugu state APC Chairman, Barr.Ugoh Agballah do not hide their feelings at every public gathering in criticising the alleged over taxation policy of Governor Mbah administration in Enugu.
This singular criticism is making the state government to maintain a balance, with a defence that the administration is only operating a harmonised tax system which the Enugu APC led by Chief Nnaji frowns at , stating that it is causing undue hardship on the masses and crumbling businesses that could not sustain it.
This credible opposition against the ruling party PDP in Enugu state, was not obtained in the past two decades of the existence of the party in Enugu state. The past APC leaders in Enugu state were alleged to front the party when they go to Abuja, but dances to the tune of PDP when they are back to Enugu.
The leadership of Barr.Ugoh Agballah and Chief Uche Nnaji are doing the magic and re-awakening the people’s interest in APC as a viable political platform to the PDP in Enugu state.
The re-engineering of APC in Enugu state by the duo of Barr.Ugoh Agballah and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji,is coming on the speculation that Chief Nnaji has his eyes in contesting the Enugu state governorship seat once again in 2027.
He came third in the 2023 Enugu state governorship election according to the results declared by INEC.
Meanwhile, Chief Nnaji’s efforts in stirring a new APC in Enugu state had brought on board three serving House of Representative members namely, Hon. Sunday Umeha of Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Hon. Paul Nnamchi of Enugu East/Isiuzo Federal Constituency and Hon. Chimaobi Atu of Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency.
Following their defections to the APC, many political bigwigs across the state are pitching tent with the APC thereby making the APC the most vibrant opposition in Enugu state at the moment.
Checks reveals that the current build up in Enugu state chapter of APC is coming at the heat of an unresolved crisis rocking the national leadership of the People s Democratic Party((PDP) ,which indirectly has affected the operations of the party in the South East zone, particularly Enugu state. There’s also a school of thought which opines that the members of PDP in Enugu State are not carried along in terms of appointments and decision making in the state and this has created disharmony between the Gov. Peter Mbah and his party the PDP in Enugu.
There is a thickening cloud that the PDP, which has been the ruling party in Enugu state,since the commencement of the fourth Republic dispensation in 1999, may loose it’s grip of the state in 2027.
The party which has gradually recovered from the effect of 2023 ‘Obidients’ political tsunami through mass decamping of 10 out of the 14 state legislators initially elected on the platform of Labour party to PDP is still facing serious turmoil and unrest, resulting from the crises within the National leadership of the party. Enugu State still remains the only PDP state in the five states of the South East zone.
APC controls Ebonyi and Imo states, Abia is ruled by LP elected Governor while Anambra state from abi nitio has remained the home of APGA, until a new governorship election is conducted in the state,later this year.
By implication of the fact that Enugu state is the only remaining state controlled by PDP automatically confers the position of the leader of the party in the entire South East zone,on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state.
In the past six months or thereabout, Governor Mbah’s several attempts to fly the flag of leadership of the party in the South East zone,has hit the rocks.
The National leadership of the party bluntly turned down the efforts of Governor Mbah and some other stakeholders of the party in the zone,to let Hon.Udeokoye assume the position of National Secretary of PDP, taking over from Mr Anyanwu from I’m state, who is alleged to have resigned to run for an electoral position in I’m state. But thereafter,, returned to reclaim his office.
Governor Peter Mbah and many other stakeholders of PDP across the South East zone,in one of their meetings held at Enugu state government house, a few months ago, threatened that the PDP in the South East may decide to join another politican plartform if the bickerings within the National leadership of PDP is unsettled.
Reports have it that Governor Peter Mbah,Senator Akobundu, Senator Adolphus Wabara and many other PDP stakeholders in the higher echelon of the party, from the South East zone, conspicuously were absent at the 101th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of PDP,held recently in Abuja.
Their absence is currently raising dust if Governor Mbah and others have started to make good their threat to leave PDP.
Rumours making round in several quarters of Enugu state is that Governor Mbah is concluding plans to resign from PDP and join APC.
The speculation is heightened from the fact that Governor Mbah is acknowledged to be in the good books of President Bola Tinubu, who commended him for the good works he is doing, when he(President) visited Enugu.
The Minister of Aviation,Festus Keyamo, also commended Governor Mbah for doing a good job in Enugu state, when he came for the flag off the operations of ‘Enugu Air’,last month.
There are unclarified social media reports that the Minister of Works,Chief Dave Umahi,has also woed Governor Mbah to join APC.
In all this, the Enugu state Governor,Barr.Dr.Peter Mbah, has kept mute and many political stakeholders has kept wandering from pillar to post.
Whether Governor Mbah will join APC or not,is also generating reactions in Enugu state at the moment.
The immediate past Enugu state APC Chairman,Chief Been Nwoye, in an online publication, said he had returned to APC to ensure Governor Mbah is accepted into the party.
Nwoye whose reign as the APC chairman in Enugu State was marred with controversies that stalled the party’s progress said it is only Governor Peter Mbah can win majority votes from the masses to enhance the chances of President Tinubu in winning majority votes in Enugu state.
On the other hand, a group that goes by the name,’Concerned Enugu PDP stakeholders,using same online publication, said they are distancing themselves from plan by some PDP members in Enugu state to decamp to APC.
The leader of the group,Ozo Okey Ozoani, who held position as immediate past Vice chairman of the party in Enugu state stated,” We are here to rekindle the hope and support of our members to PDP and to tell them that the PDP is a party to beat’.
“Enugu people don’t know any other party except PDP. It is very difficult to go to the wards and tell people about any other party”,Ozoani stressed.
Presently, Expectations are high for Governor Mbah to state his next political move, whether he is joining APC or any other party, or if he will remain PDP.
