The 2027 governorship election in Enugu State has taken an interesting turn.
This is as the immediate past Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji has joined the race.
DAILY POST recalls that Nnaji was the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State before Governor Peter Mbah joined the broom party.
The former minister has now disclosed his intention to slug it out with Mbah in 2027, pledging to do a single term in respect of the zoning arrangement in the state.
Nnaji made the declaration during a consultative and interactive workshop with his political supporters in the state.
There have been concerns in the state over the zoning arrangement which entails that power will move to Enugu West Senatorial zone in 2031.
But Nnaji told his supporters that his decision to serve only one term was rooted in his commitment to the zoning arrangement in the state.
He said: “I want to state this clearly and without any ambiguity: I will serve only one term of four years if elected governor in 2027.
“This decision is deliberate. It is based on my deep respect for the zoning structure in Enugu State, which has helped to maintain political balance, fairness and unity among our people over the years.
“I am 100 per cent committed to this arrangement. By 2031, Enugu West Senatorial District should produce the next governor, and I have no intention whatsoever to truncate or disrupt that process. Leadership should not be driven by personal ambition, but by fairness, equity and the long-term stability of our state.
“Four years is enough to lay a solid foundation that will turn Enugu into an economic and industrial powerhouse, capable of generating sustainable wealth for both indigenes and non-indigenes,” he said.
“Enugu State is richly blessed with enormous economic potential, but unfortunately, these resources have either been untapped or poorly managed over the years,” he lamented.
He also stressed the importance of continuity beyond his proposed tenure, noting that he was already committed to supporting the emergence of a capable successor from Enugu West.
“I am not just thinking about four years; I am thinking about the future of Enugu State. By 2031, we must have someone from Enugu West who can continue and expand the economic and industrial blueprint we would have established. That is how development becomes sustainable,” he stated.
To drive home his argument that impactful governance does not depend on long years in office, Nnaji referenced the achievements of former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo.
“Look at what Senator Jim Nwobodo achieved between 1979 and 1983. In just four years, he executed projects that many administrations could not accomplish in 20 years. That clearly shows that transformational leadership is not about how long you stay in office, but what you are able to do with the time you have,” he said.