Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has stated that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is welcome to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okechukwu, a founding member of the APC, made this known in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu on behalf of APC foundation members in Enugu State and the South-East region. His remarks came in response to a comment by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, who had reportedly questioned Mbah’s potential move to the APC.
At a recent political meeting in Enugu, Nnaji was quoted as saying: “Anybody who wants to run for the governorship of Enugu State, let him come to the APC, we will go to contest, we are waiting for them.”
Okechukwu countered the statement, asserting that Governor Mbah and his political group are “wholeheartedly welcome” in line with the APC’s standard convention. He urged Mbah not to be discouraged by opposition from within the party.
He questioned why Nnaji, a former PDP member himself, would oppose Mbah’s possible defection, especially given the governor’s performance record. According to Okechukwu, embracing Mbah could improve APC’s chances of securing the Enugu State Government House and strengthening President Bola Tinubu’s support base ahead of the 2027 elections.
Okechukwu also criticized Nnaji’s political track record, citing his poor performance in both the 2023 gubernatorial and presidential elections in Enugu, and advised him to focus on his ministerial duties.
“Governor Mbah should disregard Chief Nnaji. We want to win the Lion Building for the first time and join 23 other states to ensure President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027,” he said.
