The All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State Chapter, has strongly refuted claims made by Anambra-born businessman Prince Arthur Eze that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for a second term in office.

In a statement issued over the weekend by the party's Publicity Secretary, Mr. Titus Ezeagu, the APC described Eze's assertion as "misleading and completely baseless," emphasizing that it was merely a "personal opinion driven by self-interest rather than political reality."

"Prince Arthur Eze is not a member of the APC. He is neither a spokesperson for President Tinubu nor has he ever played any official role in the President's campaign or administration," the statement read.

The party highlighted that Arthur Eze lacks any mandate to speak on behalf of President Tinubu, noting that Eze was not only not a member of the APC but had openly opposed Tinubu's presidential ambition during the 2023 general elections.

"It is, therefore, disingenuous, self-serving and opportunistic for him to now claim to speak on behalf of the President," the statement continued. "Let it be made clear: the President has not made any statement, public or private, endorsing any governor in any state for a second term, including Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State."

APC Cautions Against Undermining Democratic Process

The Enugu APC advised Arthur Eze to desist from making pronouncements that could undermine the democratic and electoral process in Enugu State and Nigeria at large, urging him to "concentrate on his business ventures and allow the democratic process to unfold in accordance with the Constitution without resort to spreading cheap propaganda."

In a pointed criticism, the party described Eze as someone with a "proclivity to go all over the country shamelessly promoting any government in power (AGIP)" and referenced his alleged historical relationships with "military despots who got into power through coup detats."

"President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a democrat and cannot undermine his party and the electoral democratic process like those who worked closely hand in gloves with military despots in the past to truncate Nigeria's democracy," the statement emphasized.

The party further reminded the public that Eze had recently made similar claims regarding Governor Soludo of Anambra State, which were subsequently contradicted by President Tinubu's public reaffirmation of support for Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC governorship candidate for Anambra State.

The Enugu APC, under the leadership of Chief Uche Geoffrey Nwakaibie, the Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and providing Enugu State voters with "a credible alternative to the current PDP-led mal-administration come 2027."

The party called on the media and the general public to regard Arthur Eze's statements as merely his personal opinions that do not represent the position of President Tinubu.