All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has elected former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Martins Chukwunwike, as its new State Chairman, marking a significant political realignment in the state.
Chukwunwike emerged through affirmation by delegates drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas during the party’s State Congress held on Tuesday at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Dr Chukwunwike ,Enugu new APC chairman ( L) Gov Mbah (R)
Also elected was Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, a former PDP secretary, who emerged as State Secretary. Other members of the State Executive Committee include Princess Peace Patrick as Deputy Chairperson, Uche Obute as Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Esther Ede as State Woman Leader, Hon. Nnamdi Nwafor as Vice Chairman (Enugu East), Fabian Onah (Enugu North), and Chimaobi David (Enugu West), alongside 15 zonal executives, five from each of the three senatorial zones.
In his address, the outgoing Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, described the congress as the completion of a journey that began with uncertainty but ended in unity. He said the committee was set up to reconcile aggrieved members, rebuild trust, and reposition the party for electoral success.
He said the committee successfully united splinter groups within the APC and integrated defectors from other political platforms, especially the PDP, emphasizing that inclusion and dialogue were prioritised over division.
Nwoye thanked Governor of Enugu state, Peter Mbah for his leadership and support throughout the reconciliation process. He also thanked key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Science and Innovation, Prince Lawrence Ezeh, for logistical support, and other top government officials for their cooperation.
He disclosed that over 6,000 executives had emerged from ward, local government, and district congresses leading up to the state congress, describing the event as the “completion of the tip of the pyramid.”
Today is not just another political gathering. Today, we are completing a journey. A journey that began with uncertainty, but is ending in unity. A journey that started with responsibility placed upon our shoulders through the formation of the Caretaker Committee and is now culminating in the election of substantive state executives of our great party.
“When the Caretaker Committee was constituted, the task before us was clear but demanding: reconcile differences, rebuild trust, harmonise interests, and reposition our party for victory. There were splinter groups. There were grievances. There were tendencies pulling in different directions. But we understood that the survival and growth of the APC in Enugu State required sacrifice, patience, and inclusive leadership.
His words:
“Today, I can proudly say that we are handing over a united APC. All the splinter groups within the party have been united to one big indivisible broom. Those who joined us from the PDP were not treated as outsiders; they were integrated and given their rightful positions. We chose inclusion over exclusion, dialogue over division, and unity over personal ambition.
This unity did not happen by accident.It would not have been possible without our hardworking, pragmatic, peace-loving and purpose-driven governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah the rock on which APC stands very solid in Enugu today.
” His guidance, wisdom and steady leadership made the entire process seamless. He provided the direction, the support and the enabling environment that allowed this reconciliation and rebuilding process to succeed. Your Excellency, we are deeply grateful.”, he said.
Gov Mbah
He also thanked the 17 Local Government Chairmen of the state, noting that the e-registration exercise in Enugu State recorded tremendous success because of their support.
He thanked the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Victor Udeh, and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia for their invaluable support to the committee.
In his address, Governor Mbah , congratulated members of the newly elected State Working Committee, describing their emergence as a testament to internal democracy and unity within the party. He said the peaceful conduct of the congress reflected political maturity and could serve as a model for other states.
“What we have done here together shows that we are all members of a big family. Enugu State is not just a model of governance. Enugu State is also a model for politics. We have shown that the marriage of parties we had was not a marriage of convenience. It is a real marriage,” he said.
He urged them to uphold the great work done by the Dr. Ben Nwoye-led Caretaker Committee.
Mbah also tasked the new executive on effective communication of his administration’s many reforms and development projects to the grassroots, stressing that nothing should be taken for granted in the coming
Highlighting what he described as the gains of alignment with the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mbah cited the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, approval for rail line extension from Abia state to Enugu, and projects under the South East Development Commission among others
President Tinubu’s policies, the governor said, “The bold and courageous policies that Mr. President initiated at the centre have allowed more funds to flow to the subnational. This is part of the reason why the transformations and projects you are seeing across Enugu today are a reality.
“They are a reality because the President has, through his bold initiatives, been able to ease the macroeconomic pressure. We can see the exchange rate stabilising. We can also see the naira being strengthened. We can see our foreign reserves, for the first time in 13 years, hitting the 50 billion dollar mark. It did not happen by accident, but by courageous policies and initiatives,” he said.
“Bringing that back home, we can also see how connecting to the centre has benefited us all in Enugu. The international airport and the cargo terminal in Enugu have been concessioned to a private investor. It means that Enugu State will soon become a major aviation hub. Our sons and daughters can now fly from Enugu to anywhere in the world. Thanks to Mr. President.
“Through connecting to the centre, we have gotten approval from Mr. President for the construction and completion of the railway that stopped in Aba. Very soon, we will commute not only by road, but also by rail. So, our dream of a multimodal transport system has just become a reality.
“The President also gave approval for the South East Development Commission. There are also plans for the high-pressure gas pipeline that is here in Enugu. Within the next 18 months, we are to get it down to Enugu, which will unlock the energy potential in Enugu,” he said.
He urged party leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and effectively communicate government achievements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure to the people.
In his acceptance speech, the state chairman, Dr Chukwunwike pledged loyalty to the party and the Governor, promising to strengthen party structures at ward, local government, and state levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We will use everything within our capacity to ensure that our party structure is strengthened and that 2027 is guaranteed,” he said.
In a goodwill message, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu, charged the new executives to focus on grassroots mobilisation and deliver electoral victories from the State Assembly to the Presidency.
On their part, the five-man congress panel led by Loveth Idisi described the exercise as transparent, successful, and credible, commending the transformation and cleanliness of Enugu State.
Dignitaries at the congress included the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Victor Udeh; former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Cecelia Ezeilo; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; Senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Osita Ngwu among others .
