A coalition of political heavyweights and traditional leaders from the Awkunanaw clan in Enugu State has thrown its weight behind Governor Peter Mbah for a second term, declaring there is “no vacancy” in the Government House ahead of the 2027 elections.
The endorsement came on Saturday at a massive rally held at the Civic Centre, Akpasha, where leaders and residents from communities across Enugu South and Nkanu West Local Government Areas gathered in a show of support for the governor.
In a symbolic move, the clan presented Mbah with the revered Ofo staff—signifying authority and justice—while urging any aspirant from Awkunanaw extraction to shelve governorship ambitions until power rotates back to Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
Leading the charge, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, described Mbah as a “poster boy for subnational governance,” insisting the governor had earned overwhelming support through his performance.
“We want to make it clear that the people of Awkunanaw are solidly behind Peter Mbah to complete his second term. His good works in Enugu are earning him public acclaim throughout the country,” Nnamani declared.
Highlighting the significance of the endorsement, he added:
“The high point of our coming here today is that we want to bequeath him with an Ofo, and it is rarely given. So, nobody in Nkanu land should use Governor Mbah’s remaining four years to play with us.”
He stressed that any grievances against the governor would be handled internally, warning against external opposition.
“If anyone feels he has an issue with him, we are going to settle it indoors as brothers. But the truth remains that we are not going to joke with his second term.
“Besides, Awkunanaw does not go to fight and come back defeated. No! We go into a just fight we will win and be proud that we fought,” he said, adding that Mbah had achieved in less than three years what others could not accomplish in eight.
Also backing the endorsement, former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, said the presentation of the Ofo made the clan’s position irreversible.
Represented by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Nwobodo stated:
“The point is that we have given the Ofo to him, and it is not something you give to two individuals at the same time because our ancestors are also involved… So, Mbah is our governorship candidate come 2027.”
Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, noted that the administration had repositioned Enugu as a benchmark for governance, particularly in infrastructure and transport reforms.
In a dramatic cultural affirmation, traditional rulers from across Awkunanaw, led by HRH Igwe Obi Igwesi, jointly presented the Ofo and invoked ancestral backing, warning that any indigene opposing Mbah’s re-election risked the wrath of their forefathers.
Responding, Governor Mbah dismissed opposition criticisms, insisting that his administration’s achievements could not be downplayed.
“Three years ago, there were no Smart Schools and Type-2 Hospitals in all our political wards; the International Conference Centre, Hotel Presidential, Nigergas, the Enugu United Palm Products Limited, and several other prized assets were still skeletal shells and moribund,” he said.
“Three years ago, there was no Enugu Air; no state-of-the-art transport terminals; no CNG buses; and our dear capital city was not the conferencing hub that it has become today.”
He cautioned against divisive politics, accusing some actors of pursuing selfish interests at the expense of the people.
“We must come together to resist forces of falsehood and division.
“How can you claim to love Nkanu people and yet act in ways that hurt their interests? That tells you one thing: they are driven by selfish interests.
“Besides, could they have recorded even a tiny fraction of what we have achieved so far?” he queried.
The rally attracted a wide array of political stakeholders, traditional rulers, and community leaders, further signaling a growing consolidation of support for the governor ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
