The All Progressives Congress, APC, has commenced its campaign in Enugu East Local Government Area ahead of the September 26, 2026 local government election.
The campaign was formally flagged off at the Enugu East Local Government Secretariat in Nkwo Nike. APC Enugu State Chairman, Dr Martins Chukwunweike, presented the party flags to Executive Chairman Beloved-Dan Anike and the party’s 12 councillorship candidates.
The event attracted party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political office holders, women and youth groups. Other supporters from across the local government also attended the campaign.
ENSIEC scheduled the September 26 poll for chairmanship and councillorship positions across Enugu State. The commission is conducting elections for 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions. It also recently said it was more than 90 per cent ready for the election.
Anike pledges support for Mbah
Speaking at the campaign, Anike said residents across the 12 wards had resolved to support APC candidates.
He also declared that there was no vacancy in the positions being contested in Enugu East. His statement represented his position and that of the supporters at the campaign.
Anike is seeking another term as Enugu East council chairman. He said no opposition party had presented a candidate against him for the chairmanship contest.
According to him, the support for APC also extends beyond the local government election. He said residents would support Governor Peter Mbah in his bid for another term in 2027.
Anike linked the position to what he described as the impact of Mbah’s administration across the state. He specifically mentioned the Smart Green Schools programme and other government projects.
His comments came as parties continue their campaigns across the state ahead of the September 26 election.
The APC has also taken its campaign to other local government areas. In Nkanu West, for example, the party recently began its campaign for John Chukwuma Ogbodo and other candidates.
The party had earlier elected 17 chairmanship candidates for the Enugu council elections. Anike was among the incumbent chairmen who secured the APC ticket to seek another term.
Anike lists council projects
The Enugu East chairman also highlighted projects and programmes implemented under his administration.
He said his administration had tried to apply some of the development principles associated with the Mbah administration at the grassroots.
One of the programmes he highlighted was the Greater Tomorrow Scholarship Scheme. Anike said more than 4,000 families had benefited from the scheme.
He added that about 10,000 undergraduates had been captured under the scholarship programme.
The council chairman also spoke about electricity infrastructure. According to him, the council had procured and installed 15 transformers across 15 communities.
He said another 10 transformers were expected to be installed the following month.
Anike further mentioned the distribution of more than 10,000 wrappers to women as part of the council’s empowerment initiatives.
The projects and figures were presented by Anike during the campaign as part of his account of the council’s activities.
The emphasis on grassroots development also mirrors wider political messaging in Enugu ahead of the local elections. For example, stakeholders in Igbo-Eze South recently praised the state government’s grassroots development efforts through the Community and Social Development Agency. Igbo-Eze South Chairman Praises Mbah’s Grassroots Development Through CSDA
Edeoga commends Mbah and APC leadership
The APC candidate for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, also spoke at the campaign.
Edeoga commended Governor Mbah for what he described as his contribution to the growth of APC in Enugu State.
He also praised Chukwunweike for his leadership of the party in the state.
Edeoga described the APC chairman’s leadership as being based on knowledge, humility and empathy.
He further credited the party’s leadership with what he described as growing acceptance of APC across Enugu State.
Edeoga also praised Anike. He said the council chairman’s performance had helped strengthen his acceptance among residents.
His comments came as APC continues to build its campaign structure across the state ahead of the local government election.
The party has used similar campaign events in other parts of Enugu. It recently presented its flag to its chairmanship candidate in Igbo-Eze South alongside the party’s councillorship candidates. APC Flag-Off in Igbo-Eze South
Nnaji speaks on Enugu East election
Former House of Representatives member for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji, also addressed supporters at the event.
Nnaji described the September 26 election as an opportunity for voters across the wards to demonstrate their level of support for APC.
He said the focus should be on which ward would record the highest number of votes for the party.
Nnaji expressed confidence in APC’s prospects in Enugu East. However, his comments represented his assessment at the campaign and not an official election result.
The September 26 election will involve candidates from several political parties. ENSIEC has said 11 political parties are participating in the statewide council polls.
The commission has also urged candidates and supporters to focus on issues rather than personal attacks during the campaign period.
That position is relevant as parties intensify their mobilisation across the 17 local government areas.
Okoh backs Edeoga and Anike
The member representing Enugu East Urban Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Okoh, also expressed support for the APC candidates.
Okoh praised Governor Mbah and the APC leadership for giving Edeoga the party’s ticket for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency.
He said Edeoga’s emergence had strengthened the party’s political structure in the constituency.
Okoh also said residents should support Mbah, Senator Kevin Chukwu, Edeoga, Anike and other APC candidates.
He urged APC supporters across the 12 wards to remain united during the election campaign.
The lawmaker also attributed Anike’s emergence as the APC chairmanship candidate to efforts by party stakeholders in Enugu East.
His comments formed part of the broader APC Enugu East campaign message at the council secretariat.
The campaign comes against the backdrop of wider APC mobilisation across the state. In Nkanu East, party stakeholders have also rallied residents around Mike Ogbuekwe ahead of the council election. Nara Residents Rally Behind Ogbuekwe as APC Takes Mbah’s Development Message to Wards
Other wards in Nkanu East have similarly featured campaign activities involving APC candidates and supporters. Ihuokpara, Isienu/Akpawfu Wards Back Mbah, Ogbuekwe, APC Ahead of Election
Ugwu assures party of support
Hon. Raymond Ugwu, who represents Enugu East Rural Constituency in the state House of Assembly, also addressed the gathering.
Ugwu echoed other speakers who said APC had gained significant support in the local government.
He assured the party leadership of support for its candidates in the September 26 council election.
Ugwu also expressed support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The remarks reflected the party’s effort to connect its local government campaign with its wider political structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, APC leaders in other parts of Enugu have continued to mobilise voters. Chimaobi Atu Empowers Enugu Media Practitioners With Digital Tools
Traditional rulers back Anike and Mbah
The Chairman of the Enugu East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, also spoke during the event.
The traditional ruler expressed support for Anike and Governor Mbah.
He said both leaders had performed well during their first terms in office.
Igwe Ugwu urged residents to continue supporting programmes aimed at developing Enugu East and the wider state.
His endorsement added the voice of traditional leadership to the campaign gathering.
Other notable speakers included Senator Kevin Chukwu, APC South-East Women Leader Dr Oby Ajih and APC Enugu Deputy Chairman Amb. Peace Patrick Nnaji.
Commissioner for Labour and Employment Felix Nnamani, APC Enugu East Zonal Chairman Nnamdi Nwafor and ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane Chief Medical Director Prof. Bethrand Ngwu also attended.
They expressed support for APC candidates ahead of the September 26 council election.
Enugu election preparations enter final phase
The APC Enugu East campaign comes as ENSIEC moves closer to election day.
The electoral commission recently said it had completed most of its preparations for the September 26 poll. It said almost all election materials were ready and that training arrangements for ad hoc personnel were underway.
ENSIEC also said security and logistics arrangements were being finalised. It expects the police to serve as the lead security agency during the exercise.
The commission has asked residents to vote for their preferred candidates without fear. It has also promised a level playing field for participating parties.
The APC campaign in Enugu East will therefore continue within a wider statewide contest involving multiple political parties.
The party has already begun similar activities in other councils. It recently flagged off its campaign in Isi-Uzo, where Chukwunweike presented flags to Brendan Ani and the party’s councillorship candidates.
The APC has also continued to highlight the performance of the Mbah administration in its campaign messaging. Earlier reports from Enugu have detailed the government’s presentation of more than 10,000 achievements and its target of building a $30 billion state economy. Peter Mbah Unveils 10,000+ Achievements, Targets $30bn Enugu Economy
The September 26 poll will determine the next set of elected local government officials across Enugu State.
For Enugu East, APC is campaigning behind Anike and its councillorship candidates across the 12 wards.
The party’s campaign leaders have expressed confidence in their candidates. The final outcome, however, will depend on the votes cast and the official results declared by ENSIEC.
For context, ENSIEC has fixed the election for 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship positions across the state.
The commission has also urged political actors to keep their campaigns peaceful and concentrate on issues affecting voters.
As election day approaches, APC and other participating parties are expected to intensify their mobilisation across Enugu State.
