Enugu State Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the southeastern state and bolstering the ruling party’s push in the region ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a television address on Tuesday, October 14, Mbah announced the switch, calling it a “collective decision” to align Enugu with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“Today, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC,” Mbah said, joined by his predecessor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, state and federal lawmakers, and supporters.
He praised Tinubu’s reforms, like fuel subsidy removal, and criticized the PDP for neglecting Southeast interests.
“Our voices were too often disregarded,” Mbah said, vowing to amplify Enugu’s role in Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy goal.
The defection included Mbah’s entire cabinet, all 17 local government chairmen, councillors, and most PDP executives and lawmakers. A video shared by Mbah’s aide Dan Nwomeh on Monday showed officials chanting “APC all the way” and hailing Tinubu as “Jagaban.”
APC leaders, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, attended the ceremony, with Shettima naming Mbah the party’s state leader and promising “renewed possibilities.”
The APC had dissolved Enugu’s state executive last week to accommodate the defectors. National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje called it a “historic milestone,” strengthening APC’s grip in the Southeast, where it holds only Imo State.
Mbah, elected on PDP in 2023, said the move would boost infrastructure, healthcare, and youth empowerment.
PDP leaders condemned the defection as a “desecration of public trust.” Prof. Udenta Udenta argued, “Peter Mbah did not win; PDP did.”
The defections follow similar switches by Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno, with Bayelsa’s Douye Diri resigning from PDP the same day.
Mbah assured continuity in governance, emphasizing federal collaboration. The shift redefines Southeast politics, raising questions about PDP’s resilience.
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