The All Progressives Congress (APC) has effectively reorganised its leadership structure in the Southeast, adopting a “consensus mode” to elect a new Zonal Executive Committee during a high-stakes convention held at the Hotel Presidential in Enugu on Wednesday.
The gathering strategically showcased the party’s increasing dominance in a region traditionally regarded as an opposition stronghold, attracting the region’s political elite.
The presence of three sitting governors underscored the party’s shifting fortunes in the East. Leading the charge was the host, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, whose 2025 defection from the PDP has fundamentally altered the region’s political map.
Joining him were Governors Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Francis Nwaifuru of Ebonyi State, forming a formidable triumvirate of APC power.
Governor Mbah, addressing the delegates, described the APC in the Southeast as a “solid product” that has become increasingly easy to market to the electorate. He attributed the party’s success to the “Renewed Hope” reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu, which he claimed are gaining traction in the region.
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The governor expressed immense satisfaction with the party’s internal cohesion, specifically commending the peaceful conduct of recent congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels.
He noted that the era of “fragmented politics” in the Southeast was finally coming to a close. The procedural transition began when Governor Francis Nwaifuru of Ebonyi moved a formal motion to dissolve the previous zonal executive.
The motion, which was adopted without dissent, cleared the path for the unveiling of a pre-agreed leadership list.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, took the podium to announce the new leadership. In a move reflecting the party’s desire for continuity, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu was returned as the National Vice Chairman (Southeast).
Arodiogbu, a medical doctor and seasoned administrator, previously held the position and is considered a key architect of the party’s recent expansion in the zone. His re-emergence is expected to provide the stability needed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adding to the diversity of the new executive, Dr Oby Ajih emerged as the Southeast Zonal Woman Leader. Her selection was greeted with applause, signalling the party’s intent to deepen its engagement with the female voting bloc across the five eastern states.