By Comrade Chika Idoko
Enugu State is approaching a critical political moment. Across the state, residents are expressing growing frustration over what they see as worsening economic hardship, intensified taxation, and policies that undermine livelihoods under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah. From Nsukka to Udi, Nkanu to Oji River, the sentiment is becoming consistent: 2027 must mark a decisive shift, and the people are preparing to reclaim their state.
In a briefing with journalists, I, Comrade Chika Idoko, former African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senatorial Candidate for Enugu North, issued a call for political renewal rooted in both civic responsibility and moral urgency. I urged citizens to rally behind the ADC as the only credible platform capable of restoring dignity, justice, and genuine development to Enugu.
I reiterated my position that the 2023 governorship election did not reflect the will of the people and argued that the process, in my view, lacked credibility. I recalled the NYSC certificate controversy involving the governor, noting that despite the public concerns raised, the judicial outcomes failed to satisfy many citizens. I warned that any attempt to replicate such electoral irregularities in 2027 would be met with determined civic resistance, as Ndi Enugu intend to defend their mandate fully.
I criticised the Mbah administration for policies that, in my assessment, deepen economic distress while serving private interests. Digital taxes are placing significant pressure on small businesses; young people face increasing unemployment; electricity costs continue to rise; and households are struggling with an escalating cost of living. These conditions, I insisted, amount to economic suffocation rather than governance.
The demolition of Ogige Nsukka Market, carried out without what many considered an adequate relocation or compensation plan, stands out as a particularly painful example of policy insensitivity. I argued that while the administration has invested in projects that appear beneficial to private interests, thousands of families dependent on the market have been pushed into economic uncertainty. Nsukka people, I said, will remember this experience when they go to the polls in 2027.
I positioned the African Democratic Congress as the most viable alternative for residents seeking a break from the political order that has dominated the state. According to me, the major parties have failed to offer genuine solutions to the challenges confronting Enugu. The ADC, on the other hand, represents a coalition of ordinary citizens—traders, students, civil servants, farmers, artisans, and young people—who are united by a deep desire for change.
I emphasised that the ADC is not merely another political party but a liberation movement determined to end policies that undermine public welfare. I stated that the party is prepared to challenge Governor Mbah in 2027 and to lead a broader effort to return power to the people. The coming election, I argued, will be shaped by memory, struggle, and a collective resolve to end what I described as wasteful projects, elite-centred partnerships, and policies that burden the poor.
I called on residents to join the ADC and take responsibility for the political and economic future of Enugu. The state, I insisted, belongs to the people—not to businessmen, political emperors, or private empire builders.
Comrade Chika Idoko
Special Adviser, Press & Media Relations to the National Youth Leader, ADC
Former ADC Senatorial Candidate, Enugu North Senatorial District
