Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State will face 14 challengers in the 2027 governorship election as 15 candidates emerge for the contest.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, displayed the list of governorship candidates at its Enugu State headquarters on Monday, alongside the credentials of those cleared to participate in the election.
Mbah, the incumbent governor, is seeking a second term under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Among the major contenders is Chief Uchenna Nnaji of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Also listed are Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and Chief Obodoeze Ocho of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Edwin Alor will contest under Accord, while Prof. Jehu Nnaji is the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
The Labour Party, LP, is fielding Okwudilichukwu Ugwu, while Nnamdi Ugwu is contesting under the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA.
Other candidates include Anthony Udeani of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and Afamefuna Ani of the Action Peoples Party, APP.
Elvis Ugwoke will represent the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, while Friday Iloka is the Social Democratic Party, SDP, candidate.
The remaining candidates are Nnamdi Omeje of the Action Democratic Party, ADP; Ken Ikeh of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM; and Chief Obioma Nnamani of the Because Of Our Tomorrow, BOOT, Party.
The emergence of the 15 candidates has formally set the stage for a crowded governorship contest, with political activities expected to increase as the 2027 election approaches.
Candidates and their supporters are expected to intensify engagements with political stakeholders, community leaders and influential groups across the state in their efforts to build support.
For Mbah, the re-election campaign is expected to focus heavily on his administration’s infrastructure projects and social intervention programmes.
The governor’s administration has continued to highlight projects and programmes it describes as verifiable interventions that have made an impact on residents.
However, the Mbah 14 challengers field will provide opposition parties with an opportunity to challenge the incumbent’s record and seek control of the state.
With 15 candidates now listed by INEC, the 2027 Enugu governorship election is shaping up as a broad contest, with Mbah seeking another term against candidates representing 14 opposition parties.
