A high-powered delegation of political, traditional and religious leaders from Enugu State on Tuesday visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, pledging their support for his re-election bid in 2027.
Governor Peter Mbah led the delegation, which he said represented the voices of over seven million Enugu citizens, telling the President plainly: “We will stand proudly with you on election day in January 2027.”
The delegation included Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla; former Enugu governors Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former old Anambra State Governor Jim Nwobodo; as well as federal lawmakers, former ministers, academics and traditional leaders.
Governor Mbah, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party, framed the visit as an expression of gratitude for sustained federal investment in the state, citing projects inaugurated during the President’s January 4, 2025 visit to Enugu.
“You are a true friend of Enugu State. You crossed party lines at a time when the Enugu electorate did not favour your party, yet you chose to invest in our state,” Mbah told the President.
He said the delegation’s solidarity was rooted in trust earned through concrete federal interventions spanning security, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
Receiving the delegation, President Tinubu commended Governor Mbah for tackling insecurity and driving development in the state, and reiterated his commitment to delivering the Port Harcourt-Enugu railway line, power sector reforms and broader infrastructure projects.
“The results you are outlining — security, infrastructure, education and healthcare — are not abstract. They are evidence that reform is working, that difficult decisions are yielding real outcomes and that Nigeria is moving forward,” he said.
Tinubu also acknowledged the political significance of Mbah’s alignment with the APC, saying he was proud of the governor’s decision to join what he described as “the progressive family,” and urged supporters to ignore critics.
“Democracy will survive despite all intimidation. Ignore the naysayers. Stay focused. When you succeed and they are angry, let them be. I do not lose sleep over criticism because we are committed to building a nation of bright hope for our children,” he said.
Former Senate President Ken Nnamani, speaking on behalf of the delegation, said Enugu’s support for the President’s second term was unequivocal, citing federal interventions in roads, railways and aviation across the South East as evidence of a productive partnership worth sustaining.
“We have come to say thank you. The great achievements under his leadership would not have been possible without your support,” Nnamani said.
