2023: ENUGU APC OPPOSITION PARTY BACKS PDP AS CHIEF WHIP ENHA, ENEH, ENUGU WEST LEADERS, STAKEHOLDERS ENDORSE PETER MBAH, EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN PARTY'S VICTORY

2023: ENUGU APC OPPOSITION PARTY BACKS PDP AS CHIEF WHIP ENHA, ENEH, ENUGU WEST LEADERS, STAKEHOLDERS ENDORSE PETER MBAH, EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN PARTY'S VICTORY

Published by JANE-CARESTV, Monday February 19, 2023. 

History was made at Awgu local government area of Enugu State yesterday Sunday, February 19, during the colourful and well-attended endorsement rally, organised by the people of Enugu West senatorial district in honour of Dr. Peter Mbah, the PDP Governorship candidate in the State and his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai.  

Chief Whip ENHA, Hon. Mrs Jane Eneh, Member representing Awgu North Constituency, Enugu West leaders elected on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), both serving and past, stakeholders, party chieftains and faithful, across the five local government areas in the zone commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his exemplary leadership role in positioning PDP towards being a leading party in the state. 

In his welcome speech, the convener of the rally tagged, "Enugu West United for Barr. Peter Mbah/Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai 2023", Senator Ben-Collins Ndu, explained that the people of Enugu West zone had converged in Awgu Local Government Area to support and endorse the candidature of Dr. Peter Mbah and Ossai because the zone has taken a stand to be intentional with their votes in supporting the duo of Dr. Peter Mbah and Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai in the forthcoming general election. 

"Recall that in 2021, our people in the zone came out en masse during the Ifemelumma rally to drum support for zoning. Following equity, justice and fairness, we supported that the guber position be zoned to Enugu East because we believe that, that is the right thing be done. Thank God for using Gov. Ugwuanyi to answer this clarion call and demand, Sen. Ndu explained in his speech.  

Led by Hon. Gilbert Chikwado Chukwu, the former Acting Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, party leaders and faithful of the political party in the zone collapsed its structure and burnt their brooms to support the People's Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the state, Dr. Peter Mbah and his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai ahead of the forthcoming general election. 

Hon. Chikwado-Chukwu who spoke onbehalf of his colleagues said they decided to collapse their structure for PDP because of the good governance and infrastructure ndi Enugu have long been enjoying under PDP leadership. Hence, it will be most appropriate for us as a people and zone to key-in and support the party leadership that has continued to deliver good governance to the good people of Enugu State, Hon. Chikwado-Chukwu explained. 

Welcoming the decampees officially to People's Democratic Party (PDP), the state party chairman, Hon. Augustine Nnamani commended the members for taking the right step in the right direction. Hon. Nnamani while handing over the party's umbrella to the decampees, assured the members that the party will accord them all privileges enjoyed by its members.

"I appreciate you because you have recognised that, the peace, security, infrastructure, excellent policies and other dividends of democracy that we enjoy today in the state was made possible through the leadership of PDP". As you go home, take the message of hope on "Tomorrow is Here" to everyone around you so that they will vote massively for PDP during the poll, Hon. Nnamani emphasized. 

This endorsement rally has become necessary because of the progress of the zone and the zone's unflinching commitments to a new Enugu State of our dream, the Deputy Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, Member representing Awgu/Aninri/Oji-River Federal Constituency explained in his speech. The Mammoth crowd here has really shown that our people believe in the philosophy of "Tomorrow is Here", as adopted by our governership flag bearer in his manifesto.  

Expressing confidence that the state under Dr. Mbah's leadership will transform the state's economy, reform the agricultural sector and also ensure massive infrastructural developments in the state, the Deputy Minority leader urged all present to endeavour to vote massively for all PDP candidates in the state during the poll. 

In their separate speeches during the rally, the Council Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Pedro Okwudili Nwankwo, Zonal Chairman of PDP Enugu West, Hon. Ozo Okey Ozoani, Enugu State PDP Secretary, Hon. Cletus Akalusi, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Uche Ugwu, Co-Chairman of the Enugu West rally planning committee, Rt. Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi and the representative of the youths in the zone, Hon. Chidi Ilogebe, explained that the zone have gathered to speak in one resounding voice in endorsing the candidature of Dr. Peter Mbah and also assure him that the people of the zone are solidly behind him during and after the election. 

The speakers urged everyone in the zone to go back home and canvass for votes for the party. 

On her part, the deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo commended the governorship hopeful for his dreams and aspirations for the people, stressing that the various stakeholders who had spoken in the rally had driven home the message during their separate speeches. 

She therefore moved a motion for the formal endorsement of the candidature of the party's gubernatorial candidate in the State, Dr. Peter Mbah and his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai. Stressing further, Mrs Ezeilo said that Enugu West as a people and zone shall leave no stone unturned in canvassing for votes at the grassroots for Dr. Peter Mbah and his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai. 

The motion which received an overwhelming ovation and jubilation by the mammoth crowd, was seconded by an elder statesman and Former Commissioner for Health, Hon. Uche Ugochukwu (Ike Anike). 

Responding to the endorsement and speeches by the people of the zone, Dr. Peter Mbah expressed joy and happiness over the support and solidarity he has enjoyed from the zone. He pointed out that the presence of the leaders, stakeholders, party chieftains and faithful in the rally is an essential indicator that the party's landslide victory in the state is greatly assured. I am sure the opposition parties by now would be very jittery. 

Commending Gov. Ugwuanyi in ensuring that equity and justice prevailed during the party primaries, Dr. Mbah reassured the people of the zone that they won't be left behind in the even distribution of the dividend of democracy during his administration. 

My administration will be guided on the principles of fairness, equity and justice which Gov. Ugwuanyi-led administration is anchored upon.  

The business mogul who promised to make the state the preferred destination for investment and tourism, sustainable peace and security, also enjoined the people of the zone to translate same support to the party's victory in the zone during the polls. 

Cheering the jubilant crowd in his remark, Gov. Ugwuanyi commended the people of the zone for their faith in his administration and the party leadership in the state. 

He (Gov. Ugwuanyi) called for a solemn prayer on the ordeal of one of our brothers, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and his family in the UK and prayed to God to vindicate him sooner than expected.

Speaking further, Gov. Ugwuanyi recalled that Ifemelumma rally was conveyed in the zone on the 17th of August 2021 and eighteen (18) months later, the people of the zone reconvened again in the same venue to endorse the outcome of their decision. The Governor commended the people of Enugu West zone for holding unto that sense of justice through their solidarity and endorsement of the guber candidate in the state. 

"I can assure you that electing Dr. Mbah as my successor will ensure laudable consolidation to good governance which my administration has strived so hard to leave as a legacy in the state". Please go out there and vote massively for all PDP candidates in the state on Feb. 25th and March 11th polls, Gov. Ugwuanyi urged Ndi Enugu West. 

The rally ended in praise with the message of "Tomorrow is Here" right on every lips. 

#OkolikeMichael

 Media Assistant to the Chief Whip ENHA.