Several commissioners in Enugu State have officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what appears to be a precursor to Governor Peter Mbah’s anticipated defection to the ruling party.

The defections include Lawrence Ezeh, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology; Amaka Ngene, Chair of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board; and Felix Nnamani, Commissioner for Labour and Employment.

A video released by Dan Nwomeh, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, shows the commissioners holding APC flags and declaring their allegiance publicly.

Although Governor Mbah has not yet commented, reports suggest the formal defection is imminent. According to News Express, plans are underway for a ceremony in Enugu as early as Tuesday to receive him into the party.

Political watchers view the move as a major shift in the South East, potentially making Enugu the first state in the region under APC control since the 2023 elections.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari has lamented the yawning gap between campaign promises by politicians and realities of governance on the ground.

Delivering the Keynote Address at the 9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lagos, Masari, who spoke on the theme: Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects, listed four conditions to bridge such gaps in the interest of democracy.

To Masari, political actors must campaign with responsibility, insisting that such campaign promises should be realistic cost and achievable within the available resources.

“Unrealistic pledges made merely to capture the mood of the electorate should be challenged and exposed. Only then can we begin to elevate our political culture and make sure that the process justifies the end. Second, governance must be anchored on strong institutions. With capable institutions, policies can be implemented more consistently and transparently.”

According to him, the third leg must imbibe honest communication with citizens by political leaders. He tasked leaders to explain the trade-offs, why certain promises may take longer, why resources must be reallocated and how progress will be measured.

“Fourth, citizens themselves, including civil society and the media, must understand realities and properly communicate those realities in addition to holding leaders accountable. They should track promises, and demand transparency instead of creating sensational headlines to attract followers, especially now that the number of followers translates into monetary gain.”

Looking at the challenges before political leaders in fulfilling campaign promises, the former Katsina State governor named limited resources, competing demands and unexpected crises.

“Many manifestos are aspirational documents, not grounded in the reality of available resources or institutional capacity. Fiscal constraints are also a big factor. Campaign promises hinge on the resources available to any country. In many African nations, and more specifically in our case, budgets are still heavily dependent on a single commodity: oil. Yet, as we all know, the price of oil is beyond our control. It is volatile, shaped by global market forces, geopolitical tensions, and other complex and unpredictable factors.”

Masari said beyond resource volatility, there are also unforeseen emergencies that force governments to reorder their priorities with COVID-19 as a vivid example. He said such emergencies consume time, energy and resources and compel governments to suspend plans and promises across all sectors, resulting in campaign promises suffering in the long run.

“Here in Nigeria, insecurity remains a persistent challenge. It undermines production, disrupts livelihoods and reduces national revenues. It compels the government to divert enormous resources toward security operations. Another major issue is weak institutions. Even when funds are available, corruption, bureaucracy and inefficiency can derail delivery.”

He concluded that reconciling campaign promises with governance realities is not just about avoiding embarrassment for politicians but about protecting the integrity of democracy itself.

The keynote speaker warned that if citizens repeatedly see promises made and broken, they lose faith in the system.

“But if they see even modest progress explained honestly and delivered consistently, they will continue to believe in the promise of democracy. Let our promises be realistic, our expectations be modest, our governance transparent and our accountability strong. In doing so, we can transform hope into progress, and democracy into a vehicle of real change.”

He commended the EXCO and members of GOCOP on its 9th anniversary and consistently created platforms for the people to have honest conversations about the future of our democracy.

“This is where journalism at its best, and more specifically GOCOP in this digital age, becomes indispensable. You and your profession are the bridges between the leaders and the people. You shape narratives, hold leaders accountable and track progress.”

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has charged members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to take the lead in clearing the obstacles facing journalism, particularly the menace of fake news and unprofessional conduct among impostors in the industry.

Chief George gave this charge during the 9th Annual Conference of GOCOP, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme: “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”

Expressing displeasure over the growing number of untrained individuals masquerading as journalists, George commended GOCOP for its consistent efforts in promoting professionalism and integrity in digital journalism.

“I am extremely happy that GOCOP continues to grow stronger despite the odds. I have followed your activities since inception, and I am proud to be associated with a body of credible professionals,” he stated.

The elder statesman urged the Nigerian government to improve the lives of young citizens who, he lamented, have become victims of poor governance.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s diverse resources and human potential should be harnessed responsibly for national progress.

According to him, “There is no part of Nigeria that is not endowed. True democracy means utilizing resources for the benefit of the people. Leaders must remember that power is transient and that posterity will judge their actions.”

Chief George further warned against any calls for military intervention, insisting that such moves would derail the nation’s democratic progress.

He stressed that the civilian system, despite its imperfections, provides checks and balances through its three arms of government, unlike the military, which centralizes authority.

He also called for a comprehensive review of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

Chief George concluded by urging journalists to continue upholding truth, ethics, and patriotism, reminding them that credible journalism remains a pillar of democracy and national development.