Opinion
By Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia
ON Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conducted local government elections in the 17 local government areas of the state. The results of the elections were announced on Sunday 27, September, 2026 at the commission’s headquarters by the ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu.
The results as announced by the Chairman, indicate that the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 17 local government chairmanship election were victorious; and that the APC councillorship candidates in the 260 electoral wards of Enugu State were also declared winners.
The outcome of the local government election is a major milestone for His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the leader of the APC in Enugu State. It is an instructive statement for the opposition parties in the state.
When Governor Mbah unveiled his manifesto in October 2022, he stirred the populace with audacious proclamations, in what he called disruptive governance model. He left no body in doubt that state governance would no longer be business as usual. He announced the concepts of Smart Green Schools, Type 2 Primary Health Care, modern transportation system, growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Enugu state from $4.4billion in 2022 to $30 billion before he leaves office as governor, amongst some other robust initiatives.
Of all the Mbah’s initiatives, the one that has attracted keen interests and attention is the Smart Green School system. The smart school system is designed to transit from the traditional teaching models to digital technology, cutting-edge tools, interactive learning and knowledge-driven global dynamics.
Some other benefits of the Smart school include free tuition, free school uniforms, free nutritious meals, ICT centres, e-libraries, AI laboratories, smart farms for modern agriculture, medical facilities, etc.
The author is particularly delighted that the children of Enugu State are among the first in Nigeria to be democratized in emerging technologies: 21st Century Core Competencies or what some others call the Fourth industrial revolution, Experiential Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Global Competitiveness amongst others.
Although the locations of some of the Smart Schools are not accessible to the target population, especially in places such as Awgu local government area with hills, streams, rivers, valleys and undulating topographies. But the good news is that the Mbah government has promised to address the challenges as they arise; and that a journey of 1000 kilometers begins with a step. Another setback is the activities of some fraudulent contractors who chose to betray the trusts reposed in them by the Mbah administration.
Be that as it may, the fact remains that each of the 260 electoral wards in Enugu State has at least, two major projects to point at; a smart green school and type 2 primary health care (PHC) hospital. But if we look beyond the electoral wards, Governor Mbah has written his name with gold on the sands of time with the Air Enugu, Rebirth of the Hotel Presidential, Enugu; International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu; 300 bed International Hospital, Enugu; Owo-Isi Uzo LGA Express Road; urban and other rural road infrastructure; Modern Transport system; a $20 million ICT computer and electronics assembly factory in partnership with Haier Group. The Mbah governance model and accomplishments are unprecedented in the political history of Enugu State.
As it stands, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s presence is felt in almost all the nooks and crannies in Enugu State. In other words, Mbah stands firmly on 260 pillars or electoral wards in Enugu State as 2027 approaches. While congratulating Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and all the newly elected chairmen of the local governments and the councillors in Enugu State, emphasis is made that it will be harebrained for any opposition party to contemplate gaining access in any part of Enugu State.
***Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia is the chairman, Association of Emeritus Lawmakers of the Enugu State House of Assembly (AELESHA).
A.I
Sept. 29, 2026
Tags: Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia ENSIEC Prof. Christian Ngwu.