Mbah appoints ADC reps candidate as aide, party kicks

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State has criticised Governor Peter Mbah over the appointment of one of its House of Representatives candidates, Hon. Chinedu Onyeagba, as an aide.

Onyeagba, who is the ADC candidate for Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, was among 101 aides recently appointed by the governor.

The appointments, contained in a public service announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, comprised seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants.

However, the ADC Caretaker Secretary in Enugu State, Comrade Adolphus Ude, described the development as politically questionable, while commending Onyeagba for rejecting the appointment.

Ude questioned the timing of the appointments and alleged that the move was connected to the 2027 governorship election.

“Someone does not ask somebody returning from the market to help him buy something, but the person going to the market.

“Governor Mbah is returning from the market. His reign is coming to an end. He knows that the people of Enugu State no longer want him. Who are those going to vote for him in 2027? Is it those that he demolished their properties at Ogige Market Nsukka or Old Park Enugu, Holy Ghost Enugu or Gariki?

“He knows that people in Enugu can no longer bear his policies, particularly his ruthless and inhuman taxation policies. Even if he appoints all the Nollywood actors and actresses, and other celebrities in Nigeria as aides, he will still lose re-election,” Ude said.

The ADC official also alleged that the appointments were aimed at strengthening the governor’s political structure ahead of the 2027 election.

He raised concerns over the financial implications of the appointments, noting that the latest batch came barely three weeks after the governor appointed 23 other aides.

“It means that in less than one month, the Governor of Enugu State has appointed 124 aides. This appointment bazaar going on in Enugu State calls for concern.

“The appointment of 124 aides with multiple communication and media portfolios and vague advisory roles when the current Peter Mbah administration is winding-up is sheer executive recklessness.

“Beyond political strategy, there is no rationale whatsoever for this quantum of appointments. The Governor is only interested in regaining his dwindling political influence and mobilising grassroots support across sectors for his re-election and nothing more,” he said.

Ude further claimed that the salaries and allowances attached to the positions could increase pressure on the state’s finances.

“Already, under Mbah, the debt of Enugu State surged by over 128 percent, climbing from N82.5 billion he inherited in May 2023 to N188.42 billion by early 2026. One could imagine what will happen in the near future when the state borrows to pay the newly appointed aides of the Governor,” Ude said.