Former Solicitor-General of Enugu State, Barr. Victor Emeribe, delivered one of the most powerful speeches of the day as he openly called on other support groups in Oji River to collapse their structures into G-17
"With what I saw today, I am humbly appealing that other support groups should collapse their structures into G-17 in Oji River. G-17 is the only grassroots-based mobilisation structure I know. This movement has the people, the structure and the capacity to deliver Governor Peter Mbah and all APC candidates in 2027," Emeribe declared.
A mammoth crowd of political stakeholders, party faithful, community leaders, women, youths and grassroots mobilisers converged at the Oji River Local Government Council Secretariat on Friday, June 26, 2026, as the organic political movement, G-17 For Peter Mbah, inaugurated its Local Government and Ward Executives in Oji River Local Government Area.
The inauguration marked another major milestone in the group's statewide grassroots mobilisation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections and witnessed the presence of several political leaders and stakeholders from Oji River and beyond.
Welcoming the high-powered delegation of G-17, the Executive Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area, Hon. Greg Chijioke Anyaegbudike, described G-17 as the number one support group in Enugu State, pledging the council's readiness to work hand-in-hand with the movement to deliver Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
"Oji River is good to go. With this structure before me today, victory is already assured. We shall work with G-17 to ensure that Governor Peter Mbah, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates emerge victorious in 2027," the chairman declared.
He urged residents of Oji River to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), assuring that every eligible voter in the local government would have the opportunity to register and participate in the electoral process.
The council chairman further stated that Governor Mbah has demonstrated uncommon love for Oji River through numerous developmental projects and therefore deserves the total support of the people.
Also speaking, the Chairman of APC in Oji River Local Government Area, Hon. Paul Udepuluzo, said his association with G-17 is because of its genuine grassroots nature and unmatched political structure.
"G-17 is in the grassroots and understands the grassroots. The people inaugurated today are tested and trusted men and women who have what it takes to mobilise and convince the electorate. The party will work hand-in-hand with G-17 for a resounding victory in 2027," he said.
The Member representing Oji River State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Osita Eze, pledged his unflinching support for the activities of G-17.
According to him, "G-17 is in every community and polling unit in Oji River. I am fully committed to working with this structure to ensure that all APC candidates are delivered in Oji River."
The Member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon. Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu (Omeiheukwu), who was represented at the event due to his unavoidable absence, noted that he has known and worked with G-17 for many years.
He stated that the movement has consistently demonstrated its capacity in grassroots mobilisation and assured the leadership of the group of his readiness to work with its political structure across Aninri, Awgu and Oji River Local Government Areas.
Also lending his voice, the immediate past member of the Enugu State House of Assembly and Deputy Director, West of G-17, Hon. Dr. Jeff Mbah, commended the leadership of the organisation for sustaining a formidable grassroots network across the state.
He described G-17 as a dependable political movement built on loyalty, service and commitment to good governance and urged the newly inaugurated executives to justify the confidence reposed in them.
The Provost of the Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji River, Prof. Lazarus Ezeugwu, praised Governor Peter Mbah's leadership style, describing him as a "talk-and-do governor."
"When Governor Peter Mbah visited our institution, he made several promises, and today I can boldly say that he has fulfilled them. He is indeed a talk-and-do governor. We are witnessing unprecedented support and transformation in our institution," he stated.
Prof. Ezeugwu further commended G-17 for identifying and engaging grassroots men and women to become foot soldiers of the party while urging parents and youths to take advantage of the opportunities available at the College of Health Technology.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, the representative of the commissioner commended Governor Peter Mbah's enormous investments in education.
He described the Smart Green Schools initiative as one of the greatest educational revolutions in Nigeria and charged the newly inaugurated executives to sustain grassroots sensitisation efforts.
"Education remains the foundation of development, and Governor Mbah has placed Enugu State at the forefront of educational transformation in Africa. The people must reward performance with continuity," he said.
The Coordinator of G-17 for Oji River Local Government Area, Comrade Collins Oluchukwu Ike, thanked the Director-General and leadership of G-17 for extending the movement's structure to Oji River.
He assured that the newly inaugurated executives would immediately commence ward-to-ward and polling-unit mobilisation.
"This is not just an inauguration; it is a call to duty. We shall work tirelessly to ensure that every community and every polling unit in Oji River is fully mobilised for Governor Peter Mbah and all APC candidates," he declared.
The National Women Leader of G-17 For Peter Mbah urged women across Oji River to obtain their PVCs and be ready to defend their votes, stressing that women and children remain the greatest beneficiaries of Governor Peter Mbah's administration.
Delivering his keynote address, the Convener, Board of Trustees Chairman and Director-General of G-17 For Peter Mbah, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah, thanked the Oji River Council Chairman for creating an enabling environment for the movement to thrive.
He commended Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike for his scholarship programme for 48 students at the College of Health Technology and for the rehabilitation of several roads within Oji River Local Government Area.
Hon. Dr. Mbah congratulated the newly inaugurated executives and charged them to immediately embark on aggressive door-to-door mobilisation and political education across the local government.
"Oji River has no reason not to support Governor Peter Mbah. This local government is one of the highest beneficiaries of the governor's development initiatives, from Smart Green Schools and Type-C Healthcare Centres to the rehabilitation of the College of Health Technology and other critical infrastructure projects. Oji River is already converted," he said.
He further stated that the people of Oji River must reciprocate the governor's good works by voting massively for Governor Peter Mbah, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates from the Presidency down to the councillorship positions.
The event climaxed with the inauguration of the Local Government, Ward Executives and Polling Unit Canvassers of G-17 For Peter Mbah, who pledged total commitment to the mobilisation of voters and the consolidation of the governor's support base across Oji River Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
