Worshipers at the Christ Ascension Church today in Enugu held a prayer session for the overwhelming victory of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, at the polls come 2023.
The prayer session was held at special summit organised by the church on security and leadership with its main theme as “Ascension, Government and Elections: 2023 and Beyond”, had in attendance church delegates, ministers, leaders and other worshipers from the eleven areas and more than one hundred districts of church across the state.
In his welcome address, the General Superintendent of Christ Ascension Church in Nigeria, Bishop Raphael Nwoye, expressed his delight at the presence of the PDP gubernatorial candidate, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai and other members of his entourage for honouring the occasion despite their busy schedules, stressing that Mbah has the leadership qualities to give the state the needed transformation.
Bishop Nwoye, who is a former Deputy Governor of the state, further maintained that the church would queue behind his candidacy and give him victory at the polls.
According to him; “I am privileged to stand here before my friends, brothers, colleagues, and others to welcome Barr. Peter Mbah to our gathering. The Ascension members you are seeing today are delegates from different areas and districts in the state.
“We are assuring you that on the day of election, Christ Ascension Church will vote for you. You are here to be assured that we are behind you. We are assuring you of our votes. Christ Ascension Church is with you.”
Speaking earlier at the summit, the General Secretary of the church, Pastor Adimchinobi Ude told the cheering congregation that Mbah was the new face and light that would lead the state.
He said God had chosen the PDP gubernatorial standard bearer to lead the people and transform the state, maintaining that the church would continue to pray for him.
Describing Mbah as calm, skillful and wisdom epitomized, the Secretary noted that his election was a done deal having been endorsed by the dominant party in the state and also supported by the generality of the good people of the state.
Reacting, Mbah said he was honoured by the warm reception and prayers, promising not to renege on his campaign promises if elected as governor in 2023.
The governorship hopeful who was presented with the Holy Bible by the founder of the church, His Grace, Apostle Nwoye Godwin, represented by the General Superintendent, as a symbol of endorsement and victory, expressed his profound gratitude to the church, noting that the Bishop had displayed the true character of leadership and integrity.
In his words: “It’s with a great sense of humility and honour that I stand here before you today to receive your prayers and also accept your Bible as a symbol of victory. I want to express my profound gratitude and the immeasurable depth of my joy for this honour.
“When I came in here, the first thing that struck me was the title of your event today as it speaks to security and leadership. I was struck by those two words because those are also words that we can identify with as people who are aspiring to serve our state. And I’m glad that these issues are receiving attention by people like the Christ Ascension Church.
“We are not going to say much about our programmes on security today. I’m sure we are going to have another opportunity when we are coming to talk to you about the programmes and plans we have to address security.
“We are happy that Enugu State is increasingly becoming a model of security for other states in the country.
“And in terms of leadership; you’ve demonstrated the character to lead because I recall, before the primaries, when we the governorship aspirants came together and agreed that we were going to support whoever emerged as the candidate of our great party. We had an understanding among ourselves. You’ve indeed demonstrated that leadership by your action today and indeed your actions subsequent to the primaries.
“Just immediately after the primaries you were one of those that called to congratulate me and to assure me of your support. That for me is leadership and so, I am convinced that you’re in a right position to talk about leadership because you’ve indeed demonstrated it.
“I want to thank you all specially for this honour. I cannot thank you enough. I also want to assure you that when eventually your prayers come to fruition, we will not forget the Christ Ascension Church.”
At the summit with Mbah were his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, the State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, Director General, Peter Mbah and State PDP Campaign Organization, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Nkanu East Local Government Chairman, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, his Nkanu West and Enugu South counterparts, Hon. Uchenna Ejim and Hon. Chimezie Nkwuo, respectively, member representing Nkanu East State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, his Ezeagu counterpart, Rt. Hon. Chima Obieze, former member representing Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi, former member representing Aninri/Agwu/Oji River Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. KGB Oguakwa, State PDP Youth Leader, Hon. Patrick Okoh, among others.
