A campaign official supporting the governorship ambition of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has accused the Enugu State Government of neglecting Enugu North Senatorial District, citing alleged failures in road construction, education and infrastructure development.

Ikenna Collins Ezeagbo, Director of Youths, Contact and Mobilisation of Nnaji’s campaign organisation in Enugu North, made the allegations in an open letter issued following his appointment to the campaign team.

Ezeagbo, a lawyer, claimed that the administration of Governor Peter Mbah had failed to deliver several development projects promised to communities in the senatorial district.

Ezeagbo made the allegation in an open letter of appreciation following his recent appointment to the campaign organisation, while also calling on the people of Enugu North Senatorial District to unite ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

He said Nsukka Zone did not deserve what he described as an “embarrassing” level of neglect from the Mbah administration, particularly given its significant numerical strength, which he claimed accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the state’s voting population.

According to him, the alleged neglect was evident in infrastructure development and other critical sectors across the senatorial district.

Ezeagbo expressed appreciation to Nnaji and the Director-General of the campaign organisation, Emeka Abba, for finding him worthy of the appointment, pledging to deploy his energy, experience and organisational capacity towards mobilising youths and other stakeholders across the zone.

The campaign director said the people of Enugu North, comprising Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, Igbo-Eze North, Udenu, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas, needed to unite to address what he described as “incompetence” in governance.

Ezeagbo alleged that several promises made by the Mbah administration during the 2023 election campaign had not been fulfilled. He specifically cited the proposed University of Agriculture in Uzo-Uwani and the planned upgrade of the Opi-Ugwogo-Nike Road into a dual-carriage road.

According to him, businesses and shops along parts of the road corridor had been demolished, but the promised infrastructure development had yet to be delivered.

He also criticised the condition of roads in Nsukka and other parts of the senatorial district, alleging that several road projects announced by the state government had either not commenced or had not received the attention they deserved.

“Drive through Nsukka town today and you will weep. The roads within the university community are in a shambles, while residents are often trapped when it drizzles,” he said.

Ezeagbo further alleged that the administration had conducted several road project flag-offs without corresponding implementation, citing the Lejja Road project and other roads across the senatorial district.

On education, he criticised the state government’s Smart Schools initiative, arguing that greater attention should be devoted to the training and welfare of teachers, as well as the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing schools.

He also expressed concern over insecurity in the state, alleging an increase in incidents of kidnapping and killings in some parts of Enugu.

Ezeagbo further accused the state government of allegedly employing political intimidation and harassment against opposition figures and individuals perceived to have opposed the administration during the 2023 elections.

Ezeagbo also revisited the demolition of Ogige Main Market in Nsukka, describing the exercise as painful for traders and residents who depended on the market for their livelihoods.

He alleged that the demolition had adversely affected many residents and called for greater sensitivity to the welfare of citizens in the implementation of government policies and urban development initiatives.

He said the 2027 election presented an opportunity for the electorate to assess the performance of the government and exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.

He urged the people of Enugu North to deploy their numerical strength to influence the outcome of the election, saying they should not reward what he described as “failure, inhumanity and non-performance” with a second tenure.

Ezeagbo, however, endorsed Nnaji as his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election, describing him as prepared, credible and capable of providing the leadership he said Enugu State needed.

He said Nnaji has allegedly committed to serving a single four-year term in order to complete the rotational arrangement for Enugu East Senatorial District, adding that the commitment was contained in an agreement witnessed by the Church.

He therefore appealed to youths, women, elders, traders, farmers, students and other stakeholders across the six local government areas of Enugu North to support Nnaji’s aspiration.

“Enugu North must rise again,” Ezeagbo said, urging residents to participate actively in the 2027 electoral process.