The Enugu State APC Campaign Council has commenced strategic preparations for the 2027 general elections, with a focus on voter mobilisation, campaign coordination and promoting Governor Peter Mbah alongside other candidates of the party across the state.
The council held a strategic committee meeting convened by its Director-General, Chief Charlie Mbah, bringing together key members of the campaign leadership to discuss operational plans, assess political dynamics and develop a unified strategy for the forthcoming elections.
Among those present were the Deputy Directors-General representing the three senatorial districts: Deacon Okey Ogbodo for Enugu East, Dr Dan Shere for Enugu North and Rt. Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye for Enugu West. The council’s Secretary-General, Dr Eric Oluedo, also attended the meeting.
Speaking with journalists after the deliberations, the council’s spokesperson, Barr. Steve Oruruo, described the gathering as a meeting of the central leadership of a broader political structure comprising experienced politicians, former public office holders, academics, intellectuals and business leaders.
Oruruo said the meeting provided an opportunity for the leadership to consolidate its plans and establish a clear direction for promoting the governor and all APC candidates, from the governorship level to other elective positions.
He highlighted the political experience within the wider campaign structure, naming former Governor Jim Nwobodo, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Governor Sullivan Chime and former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi among the prominent figures associated with the mobilisation effort.
According to the spokesperson, the council intends to draw on the collective experience of its members to anticipate challenges, strengthen its grassroots network and develop effective communication strategies ahead of the polls.
Mbah's Performance to Drive Campaign Messaging
Oruruo disclosed that the achievements of the Mbah administration would form the foundation of the campaign's communication strategy, with particular attention to developments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and other key sectors.
He expressed confidence that the administration's policies and ongoing projects would provide the campaign with substantive issues to present to voters as the party seeks a fresh mandate for the governor and electoral victories for its other candidates.
Among the initiatives he identified were the proposed 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 primary healthcare centres, an international hospital intended to reduce Nigerians' reliance on overseas medical treatment, and the launch of Enugu Air.
Oruruo described these projects as important elements of the administration's development agenda, saying they would feature prominently in engagements with communities and voters throughout the state.
He maintained that the campaign would focus on communicating the government's record and explaining how its programmes are expected to benefit residents.
APC Targets Greater Voter Participation
The campaign council also highlighted the need to increase voter participation across Enugu State, citing a gap between the state's registered electorate and the number of accredited voters recorded during the 2023 general elections.
Oruruo said Enugu recorded approximately 382,971 accredited voters in the last election, compared with about 2.112 million registered voters in 2023. He added that the state's registered voter population had since risen to approximately 2.217 million.
He argued that these figures pointed to the need for stronger mobilisation and broader participation in the electoral process.
The spokesperson attributed what he described as growing political interest in the state to the governor's governance record and the distribution of development projects across different communities. He said the council would work to translate that support into votes for APC candidates in 2027.
The representation of Enugu East, Enugu North and Enugu West in the strategic committee, he added, would help the council account for the distinct political realities of each senatorial district while ensuring that its mobilisation efforts extend to the grassroots.
Campaign Office Set to Open as Preparations Intensify
As part of its next steps, the council announced plans to open its campaign office shortly, after which the various directorates are expected to begin more intensive operational activities.
These engagements will focus on coordinating campaign responsibilities, strengthening mobilisation networks and communicating the administration's achievements to residents across the state.
Oruruo said the council intends to take its message into communities throughout Enugu, ensuring that its campaign agenda and the governor's performance record receive widespread attention ahead of the elections.
He expressed confidence that sustained engagement with voters would help establish the campaign's message across the state, describing the administration's achievements as the central theme around which its outreach would be organised.
The strategic committee meeting marks an early step in the APC Campaign Council's preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the leadership now focused on building a coordinated campaign structure, leveraging the experience of its political stakeholders and mobilising support for Governor Mbah and other party candidates.
The council said its immediate priorities would be to strengthen its organisational framework, activate its directorates and extend its engagement with voters across all three senatorial districts.
