Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant political shift in the South-East region.
Mbah made the announcement during a statewide broadcast on Tuesday, October 14, describing the decision as a bold but necessary step to align Enugu State more closely with the federal government.
“Today, after long reflection, we have decided to join the All Progressives Congress,” the governor declared, emphasizing that the move was made in the interest of the people of Enugu and the broader South-East region. He said that political alignment with the central government was crucial for accessing greater development opportunities and unlocking the region’s full potential.
Governor Mbah stated that his decision was driven by a desire to serve the people more effectively and to align with a national development vision. He also expressed gratitude to the PDP, which provided the platform on which he campaigned and won the 2023 governorship election. “Leadership demands difficult, even painful decisions, in the service of higher principles and goals,” he said. “There always comes a time when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.”
The governor did not make the switch alone. He was joined by members of the State Executive Council, all 24 members of the House of Assembly, 260 ward councillors, local government chairmen, and other political appointees, effectively shifting the state’s political structure into the APC’s fold.
The APC had earlier confirmed that Mbah’s defection would take place on October 14, following the dissolution of its Enugu State Executive Committee to accommodate the governor and his team. APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, welcomed Mbah’s move, describing it as a reflection of the party’s growing strength in the South-East and a strategic boost ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, APC chieftain and former state party leader, Ben Nwoye, hailed the development, noting that Enugu had spent the past decade in opposition. “All that will change now,” Nwoye said. “The governor is not coming alone; he’s bringing with him a full political structure that includes councillors, House of Assembly members, and members of the National Assembly.”
Governor Mbah’s defection comes amid a wave of similar political realignments. Earlier in the year, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno also defected to the APC along with their cabinets. In Delta, the entire PDP structure, including former governor and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, followed suit.
Despite growing public criticism over worsening economic conditions under the APC-led federal government, the party continues to expand its political reach as more high-profile defections unfold ahead of the 2027 elections.
