Governor Peter Mbah's own people from Idodo Zone in Nkanu East Local Government Area have thrown him a massive homecoming party — and they came with cash. The community donated N50 million to his re-election campaign, calling him "a son in whom they are well pleased."

The crowd, which organisers said ran into thousands, gathered on Saturday to celebrate Mbah's three years in office. They came from Owo, Amechi Idodo, Amankanu, Ubahu, Oruku, and Umuode — the villages that make up the governor's immediate zone. For them, this wasn't just a political rally. It was a cultural duty.

"A relegated place like ours springing the surprise of producing a son of this calibre is a historical rarity," said Osinachi Nnajieze, chairman of the organising committee, reading a speech on behalf of the community. He said Mbah had turned their zone from "the backwaters of Enugu State" into a reference point for development.

Nnajieze listed projects the governor has delivered in just three years: the 14.5km Amechi Idodo–Oruku–Amagunze road that ended years of travelling through four other local governments to reach the LGA headquarters; the 40km Owo–Ubahu–Amankanu–Umualor–Ikem dual carriageway; 267 Smart Green Schools across the state; 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres; a new water scheme that solved Enugu city's upstream water problem; five bus terminals with five more under construction; CNG buses already on the roads; over 2,000 hybrid city taxis for youth empowerment; the state-owned airline Enugu Air; and a 300-bed International Hospital aimed at ending medical tourism.

"In just three years, Enugu's profile as a subnational and regional capital has risen astronomically — and that rise is no accident. It is the fruit of carefully calibrated, deeply strategic thinking by our son, our brother, our kinsman, Governor Mbah."

The community also thanked Enugu people across the state's three senatorial zones, who had earlier held massive rallies endorsing Mbah as their sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Mbah, visibly moved, responded by saying the love he felt was "real" and "organic." He traced his success to the values his people instilled in him. He recalled that 25 years ago, during his first campaign, he had to abandon his vehicle and trek over 2 kilometres because the roads were so bad. "Today, we have not only built roads and bridges, but we have equally built confidence," he said. "We have demonstrated that your circumstances of birth does not restrict you."

Other speakers at the event included former Minister of Power Barth Nnaji, represented by former council chairman Ejike Anih; Nkanu East LGA chairman Sydney Edeh; Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board Banko Okibe; and the Commissioner for Children.

The N50 million donation gives Mbah's re-election war chest a significant boost, even though the election is still over a year away. But the real message from Idodo Zone wasn't the money — it was the public declaration that their son has delivered, and they're backing him for another term.