The stakeholders of Enugu North Senatorial District have called for continued support for the governorship candidate and other standard bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state ahead of next year’s general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Nsukka zone over the weekend during the party’s zonal meeting, the PDP Enugu North zonal district’s Chairman, Hon. Nze Michael Onyeze stressed that the emergence of Dr. Peter Mbah as the party flagbearer was as a result of “confluence of opinions of the people across the state,” adding that the only governorship candidate known to the people of Nsukka zone is Mbah and no other.
Describing Mbah as more than qualified for the top job in the state, Onyeze stated that the people of Nsukka accepted his candidacy because of his character and pedigree in public administration having enjoyed the people’s goodwill when he served as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance in the state under a previous administration.
While assessing the preceding events before the 25th May, 2022 governorship primary election held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the former House of Assembly member in the state commended the process that led to Mbah’s emergence as transparent, fair and peaceful, noting that it was devoid of bitterness and rancour despite the number of aspirants that vied for the ticket.
“We are happy that the primary was most transparent and peaceful. This was as a result of our our resolve to follow the leader of the party wherever he directed us. On 24th April, we were here and we told Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi we would follow him and here is the result before us. Our people accepted him because of his character having worked with our people in a previous administration. He is reliable and trustworthy.
“It is now our duty to sensitize our people about the impactful programmes he’s bringing to us. We are all promising that we’ll work for him just as we worked for Governor Ugwuanyi. As far as this election is concerned, the only person and candidate known to Nsukka people is Barr. Mbah.”
The chairman used the opportunity to call on party supporters and the entire people of Nsukka zone to attend only meetings sanctioned by the party leadership to avoid being misled while promising the party’s resolve to set up a reconciliation committee to reach out to aggrieved members and return them to the fold.
Speaking, the State PDP Woman Leader, Hon. Lady Vera Ezeugwu reiterated the commitment of the women to roll out massive support for Mbah’s candidature in the zone, saying “Dr. Peter Mbah is the only governorship candidate for Nsukka and the entire people of Enugu North Senatorial District”.
Commending the decorous comportment of party delegates on the 25th May, 2022 during the PDP primary election which produced Mbah, Ezeugwu said the event of that day showed that the party standard flagbearer was a man of peace “who is going to put on the shoes of Governor Ugwuanyi and continue with the existing peace in the State,” adding that Nsukka zone had no doubt about his capacity to deliver and take the state to envious heights.
On his part, the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani expressed satisfaction over the unity among the party stakeholders in Enugu North Senatorial District for coming out in large numbers. Stressing on the need to prioritize local government and ward meetings by party supporters, Nnamani charged the people to ensure their presence in all meetings sanctioned by the party in order to encourage party faithful in the wards and polling units to be proactive.
Responding, Mbah, the party gubernatorial flagbearer, described the PDP as a party with a system and structures that work. Mbah dismissed other parties as of no threat to the PDP in the state because of the good governance and dividends of democracy the people of the state have been enjoying over the years.
“In Enugu State, our party is a party with a system that works. We have a structure that works. You don’t fix what has not broken. We are proud of our heritage, our party and our structure. We have the mechanism to fix whatever we want. We have the mechanism to reinvent our party. We are experts in winning elections because we have been doing that consistently for over 23 years. What’s going to happen in 2023 is continuity and seamless transition of power at the federal, state and local government levels.”
Dismissing other parties as fairweather parties, Mbah described the PDP as a party that is structured from federal to local government levels, adding that the party was intact and ready to continue with its good job in the state.
Emphasizing on the importance of attending party meetings, Mbah enjoined all stakeholders to continue to take the lead in all meetings as their presence would encourage the card carrying members of the party.
“Come 2023, our elections will be PDP all the way and this means we should go back to our local governments, wards and units meetings,” Mbah added.
