Enugu State APC chairman, Dr.Martin Chukwunweike with Dr.Onyirimba, leader IFEDICHE POLITICAL family, Others, at the 10,000-man march by Greater Awgu Youths for President Tinubu and Gov. Peter Mbah, held at Oji River township,on Saturday, April 11th.
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, has lauded the IFEDICHE Political Family, a pressure group within the state chapter of the party, for its unwavering support toward the re-election bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah in the 2027 general elections.
Dr. Chukwunweike gave the commendation after taking part in a 10,000-man solidarity march organised by the IFEDICHE Political Family. The rally, held in Oji River township, was coordinated by Greater Awgu youths to deepen grassroots support for President Tinubu and Governor Mbah ahead of the 2027 polls.
Speaking at the event, the state APC chairman described the push for Governor Mbah’s second term as consistent with the state’s political tradition, noting that the governor’s performance further justifies such support.
His words, “We have a tradition in Enugu state. All the previous governors were supported to do two terms in office. Enugu people did it for Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. We will do it for Peter Mbah, More so given his record of high performance, including revolution in education, health, agriculture and infrastructure.
“I therefore thank the organizers of this march, especially the founder and facilitator, Mazi Dr Ezenwa A. A. Onyirimba for this wonderful show of solidarity and support for our governor, the President and other candidates of our party”.
He further explained that Senator Chimaroke Nnamani governed Enugu State between 1999 and 2007, followed by Sullivan Chime from 2007 to 2015, while the immediate past governor, Ambassador Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, served from 2015 to 2023. According to him, Governor Mbah’s tenure, which began in 2023, is expected to run through 2031 if re-elected.
Dr. Chukwunweike also urged party leaders across the state to emulate Dr. Onyirimba by strengthening party structures at the ward and local government levels.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Mr. Greg Anyaegbudike, expressed appreciation to the IFEDICHE Political Family and its convener, Dr. Ezenwa Onyirimba, for their contributions to the APC. He noted that Onyirimba’s mobilisation efforts, empowerment programmes and related initiatives have fostered unity within the party in the area.
Anyaegbudike called on party faithful across Aninri, Awgu and Oji River local government areas—collectively known as Greater Awgu—to actively participate in polling unit, ward and local government meetings to sustain the party’s influence in the state.
Addressing participants, the convener of the IFEDICHE Political Family and aspirant for the Awgu/Oji-River/Aninri Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Dr. Onyirimba, thanked the state party leadership and other stakeholders for joining the march.
He explained that the rally was organised to mobilise support for the re-election of Governor Mbah, President Tinubu and other APC candidates in 2027.
Onyirimba outlined several initiatives undertaken by the group, including facilitating ICT training for 300 youths at Bridge Institute, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; rehabilitating non-functional boreholes across the three local government areas; upgrading some hospitals in Oji River; and providing agricultural inputs to selected farmers in Greater Awgu.
He assured that the group would continue to address socio-economic and infrastructural needs in the area.
His words, “We will continue to address the needs of our people, and we have been doing this without waiting to be elected before doing them.
” Of course we will have a bigger opportunity and platform to touch the lives of more people if we get to office by God’s grace,” he said.
Earlier, members of the group marched through designated routes in Oji River before converging at the local government headquarters.
Also speaking, the Director General of the IFEDICHE Political Family, Evang. Dr. Walter Madu, stressed the importance of loyalty and commitment to both the group and the APC as the 2027 elections approach.
Findings indicate that the IFEDICHE Political Family has established a network of coordinators at both local government and ward levels across all 41 wards in the Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, aimed at mobilising support for President Tinubu and Governor Mbah’s re-election.
Meanwhile, the group’s leader, Mazi Dr. Ezenwa A. A. Onyirimba, is also eyeing the APC ticket to contest the Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency seat in 2027.
