The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has slammed Anambra-born businessman, Arthur Eze, over what it described as a misleading and entirely baseless claim that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term in office.
According to the party, Mbah is currently the only Peoples Democratic Party governor in the South-East region and is considered the party’s leader in the region.
Eze, the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, on Thursday during the second anniversary celebration of Mbah’s administration, claimed Tinubu had already backed Mbah for another term.
He said, “God is a wonderful God. He brought Peter Mbah to change Igboland. Let me tell you, Tinubu has already endorsed him for second term. Tinubu endorsed him for second term because he has character. He is very honest, nobody will stop him.”
But in a statement issued on Saturday by the Enugu APC Publicity Secretary, Titus Ezeagu, the party dismissed Eze’s comments as a “personal opinion driven by self-interest rather than political reality.”
The APC rejected the businessman’s remarks, pointing out that Eze is neither a member of the APC nor a spokesperson for Tinubu.
The party emphasised that he has never held any official role in Tinubu’s campaign or administration.
The party reiterated that Eze lacks any authority to speak on behalf of the President and highlighted his well-known opposition to Tinubu’s candidacy during the 2023 general elections.
“In fact, prior to and during the 2023 general elections, Eze was widely known to have openly opposed Tinubu’s presidential ambition, preferring another candidate.
“It is, therefore, disingenuous, self-serving, and opportunistic for him to now claim to speak on behalf of the President.
“Let it be made clear, the President has not made any statement, public or private, endorsing any governor in any state for a second term, including Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State,” the statement read.
The party advised individuals such as Eze to refrain from making statements that could distort or undermine the democratic and electoral process in Enugu State and the country as a whole.
“We urge Mr Eze to concentrate on his business ventures and allow the democratic process to unfold under the Constitution, without resorting to spreading cheap propaganda which could cast Mr President in a negative light both nationally and internationally.
“His attempt to prop up Governor Mbah’s anti-people governance using the name of President Tinubu is not only false but a clear move to once again undermine the democratic process in Enugu and Nigeria in general,” the party added.
The APC reaffirmed its commitment to building a credible political alternative for the people of Enugu, stressing that any endorsement for a second term must come through the ballot box.
The statement concluded by affirming the commitment of the Enugu State APC, under the leadership of Chief Uche Nwakaibie, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and offer voters a credible alternative to the current PDP-led administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
