The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State for the 2027 elections, Uche Nnaji, has promised to rebuild demolished markets and provide free shops to affected traders if elected governor.

Nnaji, who made the pledge while receiving a coalition of interest groups at his campaign office in Enugu, said his administration would review the circumstances surrounding the demolition of markets and work out arrangements to restore the livelihoods of displaced traders.

The delegation comprised leaders of the Arewa Northern Forum, traders and artisans displaced from Gariki Market, members of the Inter-Faith Council and leaders of non-indigene communities resident in the state, among other stakeholders.

The groups, who expressed solidarity with the PDP candidate, lamented the hardship allegedly caused by market demolitions, multiple taxation and difficulties in securing trading spaces. They also expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as unfulfilled political promises by the present administration.

Responding, Nnaji said the loss of businesses and sources of livelihood had caused severe hardship to many families, insisting that government should prioritise wealth creation and the welfare of citizens rather than policies that leave people destitute.

“From the experience people have had and the trauma they have gone through, I know for a fact that many people have died. Many people have died because of the trauma they have experienced.

“It is not easy for a family man to lose his means of livelihood. The essence of government is to create wealth, not to destroy people’s livelihoods or cause their deaths. If you take away a man’s or woman’s means of livelihood, you are virtually sentencing that person to death.

“The government should not target our people. In fact, no government should target anybody, whether the person is an indigene of the state or not,” he said.

The PDP candidate said his administration would undertake a comprehensive review of the situation confronting traders whose shops had been demolished and consider building replacement markets to accommodate them.

He explained however, that the proposed arrangement would depend partly on the resources available to the incoming administration but maintained that restoring the traders’ means of livelihood would be a priority.

“My intention is to use public resources to build the markets and give the shops to their original owners free of charge.

“We will assess the resources available to us and determine whether we can provide the shops free or introduce a phased arrangement under which traders pay a very small amount that will enable us to accommodate everybody.

“However, my decision, as soon as I assume office, is to begin constructing replacement markets for those that have been demolished.

“Government is not about making money. It is about ensuring that the people live well and creating wealth for them. If we have the resources to build the markets and give the shops to the traders free of charge, we will do so,” he said.

Nnaji also promised to address disputes involving filling stations located on land intended for markets, saying his administration would explore the possibility of relocating such facilities to alternative sites to allow trading activities to resume.

“We do not want filling stations situated within markets because they can create serious problems, particularly during the Christmas period when trading activities are at their peak.

“If there is a filling station on the land, we will explore the possibility of relocating it. We cannot afford to leave the traders empty-handed, as they are being left presently.

“We will relocate the filling stations, provide an alternative location for them and use the recovered land to create a market for our people,” he said.

He added that trading was an integral part of the people’s economic and social life and deserved to be protected by government policies.

“Trading is part of our people’s way of life. Traders are human beings who deserve dignity and consideration. I am a trader too, and I understand the realities of trading. It is in our blood; you cannot simply take it away,” he said.

On taxation, the PDP governorship candidate promised to review the state’s tax regime, abolish what he described as excessive and exploitative taxes, and ease the burden on traders and small business owners.

He said the party’s emerging slogan, “No More Tax”, reflected its commitment to addressing the complaints of residents and business operators over multiple taxation.

“One of the first things we will do when we assume office is to remove these taxes so that our people can breathe fresh air once again.

“Our people are being suffocated by the burden they are carrying, and we want them to have relief,” Nnaji said.

He also promised to pursue an industrialisation programme anchored on the development of industries in the oil, cement, iron ore and steel sectors, saying the plan would create jobs and stimulate economic activities across the state.

According to him, industrial centres would be supported by residential estates and new urban communities designed to generate employment and improve living conditions.

“We are looking at opportunities in oil, cement, iron ore and steel, with plans to make progress within two years. These industries will create substantial employment, both directly and indirectly.

“Around the industrial centres, we intend to establish estates and develop new cities. These will be employment-generating urban centres that can support economic growth and improve people’s living conditions,” he said.

The PDP candidate further disclosed that his administration was considering a policy to provide free medical care for elderly residents aged between 65 and 70 years, although a final decision on the qualifying age had yet to be taken.

He said his ambition was not to accumulate wealth through public office but to lay a foundation that would give young people in Enugu State a better future.

“As many of you already know, I am not in this race to make money or accumulate wealth. God has blessed me, and I can say that confidently.

“I have built houses in my village, in town and outside the country. I have what I need, and I am not seeking public office to acquire more wealth.

“What I want to do with my people is to lay a new foundation for a new Enugu State. It must be a foundation that gives our young people a future,” he said.

Nnaji also raised concerns over the state’s revenue, debt profile and management of public resources, arguing that increased revenue should translate into visible improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare and other essential services.

Citing figures he attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics, he said Enugu State generated ₦406.7 billion in revenue, a figure he argued was disproportionate to the level of development he believed residents should be experiencing.

He also claimed that the state’s debt had risen from about ₦84 billion when the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi assumed office to approximately ₦192 billion, describing the development as a source of concern.

The PDP candidate accused the present administration of inadequate accountability and called for a participatory system of governance in which residents would have a say in how public funds were spent.

“One of the things we intend to bring to governance is participatory government. The people will have a say in deciding what their money should be used for. It is our collective wealth. The money does not belong to the governor, the chief of staff, the secretary to the state government or any commissioner. It belongs to the people.

“We must, therefore, understand what the people want before we begin spending their money.

“We will also promote transparency and accountability. When we tell the people something, it will be the truth. If we say something is at a particular stage, that must be the actual situation,” he said.

He also promised to tackle land grabbing, warning that his administration would seek to recover public land improperly acquired by individuals, regardless of the amounts they claimed to have paid.

On the political support he was receiving from the visiting groups, Nnaji said the coalition’s members had long been associated with the PDP, although some belonged to different groups within the party.

He criticised the state government over what he described as shortcomings in infrastructure, education and healthcare, citing the Smart Schools initiative as an example of a programme he believed had failed to meet expectations.

Nnaji also advocated greater transparency in the management of public finances, arguing that residents should be able to demand explanations about the use of government revenue.

He urged voters to remain conscious of their rights during elections and alleged that vote-buying could feature in the 2027 governorship election. His remarks on accepting money offered by politicians were part of his argument that public resources should benefit the people.

Earlier, the leader of the Arewa Northern Forum, Innocent Iwual, said the association had existed for 19 years and had members across Enugu State.

Iwual said members of the northern community had participated in previous elections but felt disappointed by what he described as unfulfilled promises by politicians after assuming office.

He called on Nnaji to recognise the contributions of non-indigenes to the state’s political and economic life and ensure that they were not neglected.

“We are everywhere. We are in Nsukka, we are in Orba and we are in every part of Enugu State. Wherever you go, you will find us.

“During the last election, our people came out and voted. We received a lot of promises, one after another, but eventually, we became fed up because we did not see the results we expected.

“By the time politicians get into office, before you know it, four years would have passed, and they would return to us when another election is approaching.

“We are fed up with that situation. Many people would have come out here today, but some have become discouraged and no longer want to vote because they believe that once politicians get into power, they will abandon the people,” he said.

Iwual, however, assured the PDP candidate of the group’s support, saying its members were spread across the state’s political wards.

Also speaking, a PDP chieftain, Chief Basil Ani, said the gathering brought together traders affected by market demolitions, families of people said to have died following the resulting hardship and non-indigenes who wanted to express their support for Nnaji.

Ani described the candidate as a man who kept his promises, citing his record as a former Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.

He expressed confidence that Nnaji would implement the commitments he had made to the groups if elected governor.