Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Awgu/Oji River/Aninri Federal Constituency poured out in their thousands on Saturday April 11 in a show of support for the re-election of Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The enthusiastic crowd of party faithful staged a solidarity march organized under the umbrella of the Ifediche Political Family, in Oji River Local Government with over 10,000 people from Awgu, Oji-River, and Aninri LGs in attendance.
The rally held at the council headquarters, was preceded by a solidarity march through major roads in Oji River with the participants singing and displaying banners to demonstrate their endorsement of Mbah and Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
Prominent APC stakeholders in the state, including the State Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike; Chairman of Oji River LG, Chief Greg Anyaegbudike; and founder of the Ifediche Political Family, Dr. Ezenwa A. A. Onyirimba, attended the rally.
Addressing the party loyalists at the rally, Dr. Chukwunweike reminded them of the long-standing political tradition in Enugu State, whereby governors are supported to complete two uninterrupted terms in office.
He said that the two-term tradition has been in place since 1999 beginning from Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, to the successive governors – Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – each of who clocked eight years in office.
The Enugu APC Chairman noted that Mbah, who assumed office in 2023, deserves to receive the same support like his predecessors to enable him do a second term which would end in 2031.
He said that Mbah deserves additional four years in office given the outstanding achievements of his administration in every sector, especially education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Chukwunweike commended the organizers of the rally, particularly Dr. Onyirimba, for mobilizing grassroots support to enable APC record resounding success in the forthcoming general election.
He urged other party chieftains to emulate the founder of Ifediche Political Family and make efforts in their respective wards and local governments to deepen APC’s presence in the state.
In his remarks, Chief Anyaegbudike also expressed appreciation to the Ifediche Political Family for its mobilization efforts, noting that the group’s activities have contributed to fostering unity within the APC in Oji-River LGA.
He urged party members across the three local governments to remain active at the polling unit, ward, and local government levels.
Convener of Ifediche, Dr Onyirimba, who is an aspirant for APC ticket for the Awgu/Oji River/Aninri Federal Constituency, said that the rally was organised to galvanize support for APC candidates in the 2027 general election, including Governor Mbah and President Tinubu.
He reeled out some of the intervention programmes of the groups to include facilitation of ICT training for 300 youths at the Bridge Institute in Enugu, rehabilitation of boreholes, support for healthcare facilities in Oji-River, and provision of agricultural inputs to farmers.
“We will continue to address the needs of our people. Our efforts so far demonstrate our commitment to service, even before holding public office,” Onyirimba said.
He assurance the people of Awgu, Oji River, and Aninri that the impact of Ifediche would be felt more if given the mandate to represent the three LGs in the National Assembly.
