APC, LP AND THE POLITICS OF SELECTIVE PERFORMANCE TOURISM IN THE SOUTH EAST
Let us be honest: every political tour has its own bias.
When a Presidential Media Team linked to the Renewed Hope family visits Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia, we must expect that the reading of performance will not be completely innocent. Ebonyi is APC. Enugu is increasingly friendly territory to the centre. Abia is LP, and whether anyone admits it or not, APC is watching Abia with serious political interest because Alex Otti remains one of LP’s strongest subnational symbols.
So yes, bias is possible. Very possible.
But bias does not automatically cancel observation.
The visitor’s claim that Ebonyi is “media shy but project heavy” deserves attention. Governor Francis Nwifuru may not dominate social media the way Abia does, but Ebonyi has visible infrastructure, education, health and housing investments. Its 2026 budget also shows a strong capital-expenditure posture. That is not noise. That is a serious governance signal.
The claim about Enugu is also not empty. Peter Mbah has pushed Enugu aggressively into roads, smart schools, water, investment promotion and fiscal reform. BudgIT’s 2025 State of States ranking placed Enugu very strongly on fiscal viability. So anyone comparing Enugu with Abia must admit that Enugu has built a strong case for itself.
But where the argument becomes politically excessive is the attempt to reduce Abia to “media frenzy.”
That is not balanced.
Abia under Alex Otti has recorded measurable interventions in roads, education, health, urban renewal and fiscal repositioning. The government has also made strong claims on completed roads and budgetary priority for education and health. Therefore, to say Abia is doing “only 10% offline” is not analysis; it is partisan exaggeration.
The fairer conclusion is this:
Ebonyi may be under-marketed.
Enugu may be structurally ambitious.
Abia may be over-amplified online.
But none of the three should be judged by party colour alone.
APC supporters must admit that LP-led Abia is not empty.
LP supporters must admit that Abia’s online army sometimes over-sells the optics.
PDP/APC observers must admit that Enugu and Ebonyi have strong visible work on ground.
The South East does not need childish propaganda. It needs comparative governance based on roads delivered, schools improved, hospitals functioning, workers paid, debt managed, IGR expanded, and citizens actually feeling government beyond Facebook, X and WhatsApp.
So yes, let us question the Abia media noise.
But let us also question the political lens of those doing the questioning.
Because in today’s South East, performance is real — but propaganda is also real.
