The Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has intensified his grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, taking his campaign directly to voters at polling-unit levels while announcing the commencement of construction of the more than 50-kilometre Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.
The Spokesperson of the Enugu State APC Campaign Council, Barr. Steve Oruruo, disclosed this while highlighting the Governor’s recent engagements across communities in Enugu East and Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas, describing the direct interaction with voters as a departure from the traditional campaign model built around large rallies.
According to Oruruo, the Governor visited two development centres in Enugu East Local Government Area; Mbulu-Ujodo Development Centre and Enugu East-Central Development Centre over the last 72 hours, where residents turned out in large numbers to receive him, with some presenting their party membership registers and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He said the exercise was part of Mbah’s deliberate effort to connect directly with voters in their respective polling units rather than relying solely on conventional political rallies.
“This is the latest in the series of special political engagements being organised by the Governor. It is perhaps the first time in the history of Enugu State that a party’s candidate is taking his campaign directly to the electorate at the polling-unit level,” Oruruo said.
He described the approach as a departure from the usual political gatherings organised at local government and development centre levels, noting that the Governor was taking his campaign closer to the people.
During the engagements, Mbah also inspected Smart Green Schools within the communities, where he interacted with pupils and observed teaching and learning activities.
Oruruo said the Governor was impressed by the level of activity in the schools, particularly the use of electronic boards and other modern educational equipment to deliver experiential learning.
He stressed that beyond the impressive school buildings, the quality of education being delivered in the facilities deserved particular recognition.
“While we commend the Governor for his substantial investment in education and the monumental school buildings, we must particularly appreciate the quality of education being delivered in those institutions,” he said.
The Campaign Council spokesperson also disclosed that the Governor visited health centres within the development centres and expressed satisfaction with their condition and service delivery.
On the infrastructure development agenda, Oruruo said Mbah reminded residents of the ongoing dualisation of the road from Penoks Junction to Opi in Nsukka, describing the project as one expected to stimulate economic activities, improve accessibility and enhance property values along the corridor.
He added that the Governor urged residents to protect public infrastructure and other facilities provided by the government, stressing that the sustainability of such projects required cooperation between government and citizens.
According to him, Mbah also highlighted the administration’s development achievements across the state, including projects and interventions extending beyond the major urban centres.
Oruruo said the Governor used Enugu Air as an example of the state’s growing development profile, noting that even residents who might not immediately see a government project in their neighbourhood could look up and see the state’s airline flying above them.
He added that the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Chief Charles Mbah encouraged beneficiaries of government projects to help spread the APC campaign message beyond their immediate communities.
The spokesperson said the Council was urging residents whose children were benefiting from the Smart Green Schools and whose communities had received public infrastructure to mobilise support for the party and its candidates across the state.
In Uzo-Uwani, Oruruo said residents from Ogboli Development Centre and Igbo-Ano Development Centre defied a heavy downpour to welcome the Governor during his recent engagement with the people.
He disclosed that, in response to the longstanding difficulties faced by residents travelling between Nimbo, Nsukka and other parts of the state, Mbah had announced the commencement of construction of the more than 50-kilometre Edem-Nrobo-Abbi-Nimbo Road.
The road is expected to improve connectivity among the benefiting communities and strengthen access to neighbouring areas, including Anambra State.
Oruruo further revealed that the Governor had promised to establish a campus of the Enugu State University University of Agriculture in the area, responding to a demand the people had made for decades.
He said the announcement generated excitement among residents, with some reportedly moved to tears, as they pledged to reciprocate the Governor’s development commitments with their votes.
On the APC’s broader electoral strategy, Oruruo said the Campaign Council was combining the administration’s development record with stakeholder mobilisation, grassroots advocacy and efforts to maintain unity within the party.
“Our strategy goes beyond relying on the Governor’s impressive development interventions, achievements and fulfilled promises. We are also mobilising stakeholders to remain united, organised and committed to peaceful coexistence, while working together to protect the development vision for the state,” he said.
He expressed confidence that a united political structure would strengthen the party’s chances of winning across the board in 2027.
“Our message is clear: if the people want the sustainability of the development initiatives being implemented by the APC-led government in Enugu State, they must support the party and its candidates,” he said.
The Campaign Council, he added, would sustain door-to-door advocacy and engagement with families, groups and individuals across the state, stressing that its electoral objective extended beyond securing Mbah’s re-election to delivering victory for all APC candidates.
Oruruo maintained that the party’s candidates who emerged through the primaries had the responsibility of working closely with the Campaign Council to consolidate support and secure maximum electoral success.
He said the Council’s ultimate target was to mobilise the highest possible number of eligible voters in Enugu State to participate in the 2027 elections.
