Stakeholders and residents of Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area have declared support for Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its chairmanship candidate, Engr. Mike Chikosolu Ogbuekwe.
The declaration came during the final leg of the Mmirioma Campaign Organisation’s ward-to-ward mobilisation tour, which ended in Ogbuekwe’s home community on Monday. The campaign team visited Imeoha Nkerefi Ward 2 and Nkerefi Ward 1 ahead of the September 26, 2026 local government election.
Community leaders, government appointees, political stakeholders, women, youths and other supporters attended the engagements. Their declarations formed part of the campaign activities taking place across Nkanu East ahead of the polls.
The election is scheduled by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for September 26. Similar campaign activities have taken place in other parts of the local government, including Ugbakwa wards’ declaration of support for Mbah and Ogbuekwe.
Nkerefi Stakeholders Highlight Mbah’s Appointments
Speaking at Imeoha Nkerefi Ward 2, Governor Mbah’s Special Assistant on Research and Publications, Barr. Josh Eje, said the administration had given Nkerefi and Nkanu East significant representation.
Eje pointed to the appointment of several indigenes of the area to government positions. He listed the Commissioner for Lands, the Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, the General Manager and Chief Executive of the Community and Social Development Agency, and his own appointment.
He said Ogbuekwe’s nomination for the Nkanu East chairmanship had further increased the community’s political stake. Ogbuekwe previously served as Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture.
“Governor Peter Mbah gave Nkanu East the most qualified person for the job in the person of Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe,” Eje said.
He urged residents to support APC candidates and declared that Nkerefi would vote for the party across the ballot. The comments came amid wider campaign activities in the state, including APC’s campaign mobilisation in Enugu East.
Former Deputy Chairman Pledges Women’s Support
Former Nkanu East Deputy Chairman, Barr. Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna, thanked Governor Mbah for what she described as his recognition of Nkerefi within the administration.
Ogbonna pledged the support of women in the community for Ogbuekwe and the APC. She said residents would demonstrate that support during the September 26 election.
“If there is anything more than 100 per cent votes, that is what we are going to give to Mike Ogbuekwe and the APC on Saturday, September 26,” she said.
However, she also called for greater consideration for women and youths in the administration of the proposed Mmirioma council government.
The call for women and youth inclusion came as candidates continued their grassroots engagements ahead of the election. Other communities have also hosted campaign meetings, including those covered in the Nara campaign mobilisation report.
Ka Nkerefi Je Movement Donates ₦100,000
The home-based Ka Nkerefi Je Movement, a support group backing Ogbuekwe, also declared support for the APC candidate.
The group presented ₦100,000 to support the campaign. The donation formed part of the expressions of solidarity during the campaign’s final stop in Ogbuekwe’s community.
Support groups have featured in several campaign engagements across Nkanu East. The mobilisation tour has included visits to communities and meetings with local stakeholders.
Related activities include the campaign’s engagement with Ugbakwa wards and the APC’s grassroots outreach in Nkanu East.
Ajah Says Nkerefi Is Behind Ogbuekwe
The Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Service Commission and former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. GOC Ajah, told Ogbuekwe that Nkerefi residents supported his candidacy.
Ajah spoke after the Enugu State House of Assembly confirmed him as Civil Service Commission chairman following his appointment by Governor Mbah. He said the governor had shown what he described as uncommon consideration for Nkerefi.
“Peter Mbah has demonstrated unreserved love for Nkerefi people. He saw our predicaments and decided to wipe away our tears,” Ajah said.
He urged Ogbuekwe to justify the confidence expressed in him by setting remarkable records in office if elected.
The endorsement was among several declarations made during the campaign visit. Nkerefi traditional rulers had also previously conferred the Ofo Staff of Authority on Ogbuekwe, as reported in this account of the traditional rulers’ ceremony.
Ward 1 Stakeholders Rally Behind APC Candidate
At Nkerefi Ward 1, stakeholders including Hon. Reuben Onwuka, Hon. Monday-Diamond Ani and other community leaders expressed support for Ogbuekwe.
Ani, who is the General Manager of the Community and Social Development Agency, promised that his office would support an Ogbuekwe administration in what he described as a special way. He also donated ₦1 million to the campaign.
The Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Barr. Chimobi Okorie, spoke about the condition of roads connecting communities in Nkanu East. He said poor internal road connections had previously made the local government appear fragmented.
“Before now, Nkanu East Local Government Area appeared like four different local governments because of the lack of internal link roads,” Okorie said. He added that the condition of the roads had changed under Governor Mbah’s administration.
Infrastructure and development have featured prominently in campaign discussions across the state. Recent coverage has included NACCIMA’s comments on Enugu’s economic ambitions and security and the state government’s development agenda.
Aninwogbu Group Pledges Support
The Mike Aninwogbu Support Group for Mmiri Oma 2026 also participated in the mobilisation.
The group’s convener, Hon. Mike Aninwogbu, said its support for Ogbuekwe was based on the candidate’s professional and public-sector experience. He referred to Ogbuekwe’s background in engineering and the oil and gas sector, as well as his previous public service roles.
Aninwogbu said Nkanu East had considerable agricultural and economic potential. He argued that Ogbuekwe’s previous involvement in agriculture could help the local government develop the sector if he won the election.
The group pledged support for Ogbuekwe and other APC candidates. The campaign’s emphasis on agriculture also reflects themes raised in other Enugu political reports, including the campaign’s message on grassroots development in Nkanu East.
Edeh Assures Ogbuekwe of Support
The outgoing Nkanu East Local Government Chairman and Enugu State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, attended the campaign event.
Edeh thanked Nkerefi and the wider Nkanu East community for supporting him throughout his tenure. He assured Ogbuekwe that he would provide the necessary support to help the incoming administration build on existing development efforts.
He also appealed to voters to extend to Ogbuekwe the support they had given his administration.
The transition between outgoing and incoming council leadership formed part of the discussions ahead of the local government election. ENSIEC has also provided updates on its preparations, including its reported readiness for the September 26 polls, covered in this report on election preparations.
Ogbuekwe Says Nkerefi Road Is in 2026 Budget
Addressing residents, Ogbuekwe announced that the Nkerefi road had received approval and was included in the 2026 budget.
The announcement drew applause from the gathering. Ogbuekwe said the budget inclusion marked an important step towards addressing one of the infrastructure concerns raised by residents.
Roads and connectivity have featured in political discussions across Enugu State. Related coverage includes Enugu’s road and development agenda and community support for development efforts in Igbo-Eze South.
Ogbuekwe Promises People-Centred Leadership
Ogbuekwe thanked Nkerefi residents for welcoming the campaign team and supporting him throughout the tour. He said concluding the mobilisation in his home community was significant because Nkerefi had shaped his values and remained central to his personal journey.
“I have come home not merely as a candidate, but as your son,” he said. Ogbuekwe added that he had listened to concerns raised across Nkerefi and Nkanu East during the campaign.
He described the support as a responsibility rather than permission to take residents’ confidence for granted. If elected, he promised to work with traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths, professionals and people in the diaspora.
He said his priorities would include roads, agriculture, human capital development, security, healthcare and economic opportunities. He also promised open communication with residents, saying local government should remain connected to the grassroots.
Ogbuekwe thanked Governor Mbah for his leadership and the party for its confidence in him. He also urged residents to participate peacefully in the September 26 election and support APC candidates.
Nwatu Calls for Unity and Peaceful Participation
The Director-General of the Mmirioma Campaign Organisation, Hon. Prince Emeka Nwatu, commended Nkerefi stakeholders for welcoming the campaign team.
Nwatu said completing the ward-to-ward tour marked another stage in the organisation’s engagement with communities across Nkanu East. He urged supporters to remain united and peaceful as election day approaches.
“We have taken this campaign to the wards, listened to our people and received their messages,” he said. “What we need now is unity, discipline and peaceful participation in the electoral process.”
He also called on APC supporters to protect their votes and support the party’s candidates across the ballot. ENSIEC has separately urged political parties to maintain peaceful conduct ahead of the polls, as reported in the Enugu election peace accord story.
Nwigwe Presents APC Flags to Councillorship Candidates
The Nkanu East APC Chairman, Hon. Abel Nwigwe, addressed the gathering and presented party flags to the APC councillorship candidates.
Nwigwe, who is also from Nkerefi, said the campaign’s conclusion in his community made the occasion particularly significant. He urged party members to remain committed and work for their candidates in the September 26 election.
He said the candidates should regard their nominations as a responsibility to the people rather than simply a political opportunity. Nwigwe subsequently presented the flags to the councillorship candidates for the two Nkerefi wards.
The presentation formally marked the party’s mobilisation for the final stage of the campaign. Other campaign reports have also documented party flag presentations, including the APC’s mobilisation in Ugbakwa.
Political and Community Leaders Attend Final Campaign Stop
The final engagement attracted several political and community leaders.
Those present included Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Obegu, a former Nkanu East Local Government Chairman; APC State Youth Leader, Hon. Basil Ojengwa; and the former deputy chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area.
Others included Governor Mbah’s Senior Special Assistant on Market, Hon. Chinedu Mbah; Hon. Mrs Angela Ngene; Director-General of the Ije Awele Movement, Hon. Kingsley Ezinwa; and other movement leaders.
The presence of government appointees, party officials, community stakeholders and support groups added to the gathering’s political significance.
Mmirioma Campaign Tour Ends Ahead of September 26 Poll
The Nkerefi engagement brought the Mmirioma Campaign Organisation’s ward-to-ward tour of Nkanu East to a close.
The campaign visited several communities across the local government, where stakeholders and supporters expressed their positions on the APC candidates and Governor Mbah’s administration. Similar mobilisation activities have taken place in other wards, including the campaign’s visit to Nara and the APC’s outreach in Ugbakwa.
As the September 26 election approaches, parties and candidates are expected to focus on their final mobilisation efforts and voter participation. The declarations in Nkerefi reflect the views expressed by the stakeholders and campaign supporters who spoke at the event.
The election outcome, however, will be determined through the electoral process on September 26. Further election-related coverage includes the APC’s campaign schedule for the Enugu local government polls.
