Mbah Swears In 17 LG Chairmen, Charges Them to Hit the Ground Running
ENUGU — Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has sworn in the 17 newly elected Local Government Area chairmen and their deputies, charging them to immediately begin work and translate their campaign promises into tangible development for residents across the state.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Government House, Enugu, following the local government elections conducted across the state on September 26.
Addressing the newly inaugurated council chairmen, Governor Mbah stressed that their electoral victory marked the beginning of their responsibilities to the people rather than the end of the political process.
According to reports from the ceremony, the governor described the relationship between elected officials and citizens as a social contract and urged the new council bosses to "hit the ground running."
Mbah emphasised that there would be no honeymoon for the new administrations, given the development challenges confronting communities across the 17 local government areas.
He charged the chairmen to focus their attention on issues affecting ordinary residents, particularly poverty reduction, education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and grassroots infrastructure.
The governor also described the local government system as the tier of government closest to the people and an important partner in the state's broader development agenda.
17 Chairmen Take the Oath of Office
The newly sworn-in chairmen and their respective local government areas are:
- John Ogbodo — Nkanu West
- Mike Ogbuekwe — Nkanu East
- Ugochukwu Nwanjoku — Aninri
- Jude Chinedu Asogwa — Nsukka
- Caleb Ani — Enugu South
- Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze — Igboeze South
- Brendan Emeka Ani — Isi-Uzo
- Ibenaku Onoh — Enugu North
- Martin Amadieze — Igbo-Etiti
- Innocent Ezeoha — Udenu
- Chris Onyekachi Simon — Igboeze North
- Chijioke Ezeugwu — Uzo-Uwani
- Hyginus Agu — Udi
- Uche Okolo — Awgu
- Beloved Dan Anike — Enugu East
- Greg Anyaegbudike — Oji River
- Vitalis Ndu — Ezeagu.
The chairmen were inaugurated alongside their respective vice chairmen.
Mbah: Election Victory Is a Mandate for Service
Governor Mbah reminded the council bosses that the promises made during their election campaigns had now become obligations to the electorate.
He urged them to remain accessible to their constituents and ensure that local government administration translates into visible improvements in the lives of residents.
The governor's call comes shortly after the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission announced the results of the September 26 council elections.
ENSIEC declared all 17 chairmanship positions and all 260 councillorship positions won by candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A review by Premium Times reported that 12 of the 17 chairmen-elect had previously served in the position and were returning for another term, while five were elected for the first time.
Focus on Grassroots Development
With the new administrations now formally inaugurated, attention is expected to shift from electioneering to governance and service delivery.
The governor urged the chairmen to work with their communities and align local government priorities with the broader development objectives of the state.
For residents across Enugu's 17 LGAs, the new administrations are expected to address local priorities while ensuring responsible management of public resources.
The inauguration therefore marks a new phase in grassroots administration in Enugu State, with the council chairmen assuming full responsibility for delivering on the mandates entrusted to them by the electorate.
The Voice of the Masses will continue to monitor developments across the 17 local government areas and report on projects, policies, public spending and other issues affecting residents at the grassroots.
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