South East APC Shift Pragmatic, Tinubu Endorsement Rooted in Development Gains — Mbah

South East APC Shift Pragmatic, Tinubu Endorsement Rooted in Development Gains — Mbah

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has defended the growing political realignment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East, as well as the region’s decision to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue in office until 2031, describing both moves as pragmatic and development-driven.

Mbah said the endorsement of President Tinubu and the steady migration of political actors to the APC, which now controls three of the five South East states, marked a major paradigm shift already yielding tangible benefits for the region.

The governor spoke on Saturday at the South East APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu, where he said the region was no longer at a crossroads but actively shaping its political destiny.

“It means that we are not standing at the crossroads of history; we are shaping history itself,” Mbah said.

Explaining the decision to back Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, Mbah said the endorsement was deliberate and anchored on the president’s reforms and development-focused leadership.

“This is no whimsical decision; it is rooted in facts and the understanding that success as a region comes from vision, discipline, strategy grounded in reality, and relentless delivery,” he stated.

READ ALSO:

• 2027 Presidency: NNPP Bars Kwankwaso From Presidential Ticket, Opens Race to Other Aspirants
• AFCON 2025: Petković Admits Super Eagles’ Superiority After Nigeria Defeat Algeria 2-0
• Tehran Threatens Military Retaliation Amid Mass Protests, U.S. Warnings

Mbah described Enugu State as an emerging APC stronghold, adding that Nigeria, under Tinubu’s leadership, has embarked on difficult but necessary reforms to reposition the country for long-term economic sustainability.

He said the Renewed Hope Agenda was more than a political slogan, noting that alignment between the federal government and states was critical to delivering economic growth and prosperity.

Highlighting key gains for the South East, the governor said the region was now benefiting from increased federal attention in critical sectors such as energy development, gas exploration, transportation, and aviation infrastructure.

He cited the revival of the Eastern Rail Line, linking Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Enugu and other cities, as well as the approval of the Enugu Airport concession, which he said would position the state as an international gateway for the South East.

“These are not symbolic gestures. They are strategic decisions that reflect a federal leadership that understands partnership, decentralised execution and strong states delivering strong outcomes,” Mbah said.

The governor stressed that the South East was moving away from fragmented politics toward a unified regional strategy, warning that internal divisions had previously slowed development.

“In collectively affirming an end to decades of fragmented politics, we are saying the South East will no longer stand as a divided political unit,” he said.

Mbah urged political leaders and stakeholders to prioritise unity, partnership and outcome-driven governance, noting that the endorsement of Tinubu was about safeguarding progress already underway and expanding opportunities for the region.

South East APC Shift Pragmatic, Tinubu Endorsement Rooted in Development Gains — Mbah