By Eugene Agbo

Since Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) released the time table for Local government councils and Councillorship Elections across the 17 LGAs in the State, the political atmosphere within the State has been very charged and everyone could feel it.

ENSIEC had set aside 11th – 22nd December, 2023 for party primaries to select the candidates to fly parties’ flags for 24th February 2024 local elections.

Political consultations and scheming have started in and out of party leadership at both local and state levels of the parties.

The two major political parties in Enugu State, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) seem to have started making strategic moves to zone the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions to certain marginalised areas in order to maintain fairness, equity and balance in political positions.

In Udenu Local government, PDP has been in power since 1999 with Chief Hon. Eugene Odo as the first Executive Chairman of the Council, PDP with over 22 years in the helm of affairs of the Local government has practically nothing to show for these years in terms of democratic dividends to the people.

The people registered their displeasure with PDP in the last general elections where Labour Party, with influence of His Excellency Peter Obi, defeated the incumbent Governor for Senate and won all the legislative positions in both Federal and State House of Assembly in Udenu and Enugu North senatorial district.

Labour Party is now the new bride in town especially in Udenu Local government politics.

Udenu Local government, administratively, has three development centres which are Udenu Development Centre, Udunedem Development Centre and Orba Development Centre. Out of the three Development centres, Udenu has produced the majority of the Executive Chairmen including Chief Hon. Eugene Odo, Chief Hon. Bernard Eze, Chief BBC Ayogu, Hon. Fabian Ugwu, Chief Hon. Innocent Anayo Eze, Dr. Godwin Ejikeme Abonyi, Hon. Amaechi Nwodo, and Hon. Solomon Onah.

On the other hand, Udunedem Development Centre has produced at least two Chairmen, Hon. Silas Odo and Hon. James Ugwu (Igwurube).

Remember that the current Deputy Governor, His Execellency Ifeanyi Ossai, is from Udunedem.

Unfortunately, the third Development Centre, Orba Development Centre has had only one Executive Chairman, Hon. Frank Ugwu, since the inception of the local government.

Many are of the opinion that for fair play, equity and justice, the Labour Party ticket should be zoned to Orba development centre with 75 polling units.

Labour Party has so many people from Orba with credible and unquestionable characters to put forward as candidates for the February 24, 2024 local government election. One of such persons is Engr. Christian Chekwube Ugwu.

Christian Chekwube Ugwu, who is a Nigerian Entrepreneur, hails from Orba, in Udenu Local government Area, Enugu State. He founded several companies spanning across the fields of Engineering Procurement , Design and Construction, Information Technology and Logistics.

Engr. Chris Ugwu is fondly called “Don Chris” by the younger generation because of his long years of unyielding philanthropic dispositions. He has demonstrated time and again, that developing humans is the best policy.

Engr. Ugwu is an Engineering graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik, with specialty in Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. He equally has a Master degree in Energy Technology and Management (ETM) from University of Ibadan.

He is an active member of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE. He is also a member of other professional bodies such as Nigerian Institute of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, NIEEE and Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM.

Engr Chris Ugwu is a NAPTIN trained Engineer with grade-A certification from Nigeria Electricity Management and Safety Agency (NEMSA). He is also a registered Engineer by Council of Regulations of Engineering Profession in Nigeria (COREN).

Christian Ugwu is an Energy Market Consultant with over 10 years of experience spanning across electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution in Nigeria Electricity Services industry, NESI. He was once a Senior Power Distribution Engineer in one of the largest Power Distribution companies in Nigeria, Ikeja Electric Plc, Lagos.

Engr. Chris Ugwu as an Energy expert has always advocated for an improved energy mix in Nigeria where renewable energy technologies should be adopted in solving Nigeria power needs.

There is still hope in Nigeria polity if young, selfless and vibrant technocrats like Chris Ugwu can accept to take on leadership role in the affairs of Udenu Local government Area.

His emergence as candidate of Labour Party in the local government election will definitely send shivers down the spins of the ruling political party, PDP, as he is poised to defeat any other candidate to clinch the Chairmanship position.

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Engr Chris Ugwu has no single baggage in both his private and professional life.
ln this digital age where it is very easy to dig up the ugly past of anybody, Labour Party should focus and ensure they do not put up persons with controversial and questionable characters in order not to attract unnecessary litigations pre and post the election from within and outside the party.

Labour Party has all it takes to win Udenu Local government election if the right candidate will be given the chance to fly the flag. Labour Party should be different from the ruling party and avoid imposition of unpopular candidates to the people.

Dr. Agbo, a political Scientist, is from Udenu local government area of Enugu State.