Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing neglect and lack of recognition for the voices of his people as key reasons for his decision.
Speaking in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning, Mbah announced his departure from the PDP, the party under which he was elected governor in 2023. He expressed gratitude for its past support but emphasized that “there comes a time when everyone must make a bold choice.”
Today, we have decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah declared. “To the PDP, which provided the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude.”
The Enugu governor noted that the decision was not a solo move but a collective choice involving his immediate predecessor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, members of the State and National Assemblies, the State Executive Council, and over 80% of PDP executives and appointees.
Mbah lamented that for years, the South-East region remained loyal to the PDP, yet their “voices were too often disregarded.” He stated that his switch to the APC was driven by the need to find a platform that truly values the interests of his people and offers a new pathway for development.
“Leadership sometimes demands difficult, even painful decisions in the service of higher principles and goals,” he said. “Our choice to join the APC is a commitment to a visionary partnership and disruptive transformation values I share with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Prominent APC figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, are expected to formally receive Governor Mbah and his team into the ruling party.
The defection marks a significant realignment in Enugu State’s political landscape, potentially redefining the region’s relationship with the federal government and strengthening APC’s influence in the South-East.