LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-A fresh political controversy has erupted in Enugu State following claims by oil magnate Arthur Eze that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Governor Peter Mbah for a second term.
The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has categorically rejected his assertion as misleading and dangerous to Nigeria’s democratic process.
During the second anniversary celebration of Governor Mbah’s administration in Enugu on Thursday, the Anambra-born businessman, Prince Eze, declared that President Tinubu had already thrown his weight behind Mbah’s 2027 re-election bid.
“Tinubu has already endorsed him for second term because he has character. He is very honest. Nobody will stop him,” Eze said.
However, the Enugu APC responded swiftly and sharply via a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Titus Ezeagu. The party dismissed the comments as a reckless distortion of political reality, accusing Eze of attempting to speak for a President he neither supports nor represents.
“Arthur Eze is not a member of the APC, has never served in Tinubu’s campaign or administration, and was openly opposed to his presidential bid in 2023,”
“His sudden public alignment with Tinubu now is nothing more than opportunism dressed as endorsement,” the party stated.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Is God’s Gift To Nigeria — Arthur Eze
The APC warned that such declarations from unelected elites undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions by promoting a culture of “top-down anointment” over electoral accountability.
Observers say the incident reflects a broader trend in Nigerian politics, where powerful businessmen and political godfathers seek to shape public perception and influence succession plans long before the electoral process begins.
The party also raised concern that dragging the President’s name into local political affairs, particularly in a PDP-controlled state, could sow confusion and weaken public trust in democratic institutions.
“President Tinubu has not endorsed any sitting governor for a second term—publicly or privately. These claims are unsubstantiated and risk portraying the presidency as a tool for political manipulation,” the statement added.
Furthermore, Governor Mbah, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), remains the only PDP governor in the South-East, and his tenure has drawn mixed reviews from political stakeholders and citizens alike.
The APC’s statement accuses Eze of attempting to shield the governor’s alleged policy failures by invoking a false presidential endorsement.
The Enugu APC emphasized that the path to a second term lies through the will of the people, not the pronouncements of wealthy allies or political showmen.
“We are committed to providing a credible alternative to the current administration. Endorsements should come from the electorate, not from billionaires at anniversary galas,” the statement concluded.
As 2027 draws nearer, the battle for political control in Enugu and across the South-East is heating up. As this incident reveals, the struggle is not just about parties or personalities; it is about whether Nigeria’s democracy will be shaped by institutions or individuals.
