Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State chapter, has elected former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Martins Chukwunwike, as its new State Chairman following the conclusion of its statewide congresses.
At the final congress held in Enugu on Tuesday, delegates from the 17 local government areas affirmed Chukwunwike as the state chairman.
His emergence marks the culmination of a year-long negotiation and realignment process reportedly backed by the administration of Peter Mbah.
Chukwunwike’s election is widely seen as signalling the end of the old APC structure in the state and the beginning of a reconfigured party leadership. During the affirmation process, several former PDP executives under the previous arrangement emerged in key positions within the new APC structure.
Speaking at the event, 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 constituted to reconcile aggrieved members, rebuild trust, and reposition the party for electoral success. According to him, the committee successfully united splinter groups within the APC and integrated defectors from other political platforms, particularly the PDP, stressing that inclusion and dialogue were prioritised over division.
Nwoye commended Governor Mbah and other stakeholders for their support during the reconciliation process. He disclosed that more than 6,000 executives emerged from the ward, local government, and zonal congresses leading up to the state congress.
“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,” he said.
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; it 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.
The governor tasked the new executives with effectively communicating his administration’s reforms and development projects to the grassroots, stressing that nothing should be taken for granted. He urged party leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and highlight government achievements in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
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 victory in 2027 is assured,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu, charged the new executives to prioritise grassroots mobilisation and deliver electoral victories from the State Assembly to the Presidency.
