Enugu, Enugu State – Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has executed a sweeping political realignment, formally defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move, announced in a broadcast from Government House on Tuesday, carries monumental significance, effectively ending the PDP’s uninterrupted 24-year control of the state.
The defection was not a solo act. Governor Mbah confirmed that he moved with the entire political structure of the state, including all members of the State Executive Council (commissioners), all elected chairpersons of the 17 local government areas, elected councillors, and a stated “over 80 per cent of the PDP executives” in the state.
Amid cheers from supporters, Mbah described the shift as a collective decision made after long reflection.
“Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah stated. “This move is bigger than politics – it is about alignment at scale. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation.”
Connecting to the Centre
Governor Mbah anchored his rationale on the need to connect Enugu State to the central government for accelerated development. He lauded President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing that the defection was intended to enter a “visionary partnership” with the Presidency.
“The president has shown not only interest, but a deep and vested commitment to Enugu, one that recognises our region as a pillar of national progress,” Mbah said, affirming that his administration shares President Tinubu’s conviction that South-east development must be “bold and disruptive.”
South-east Political Map Redrawn
The move completely redraws the political map of the South-east geopolitical zone. Enugu was the last remaining PDP-controlled state in the region, which has been under the party’s control since the return to democracy in 1999. With this defection, the APC now controls three of the five states (Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu), leaving Anambra (APGA) and Abia (Labour Party).
Curiously, immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a former stalwart of the PDP, was present at the declaration, although his personal defection status remains unclear.
Fallout from Internal PDP Crisis
The governor’s calculated switch follows months of internal turmoil that plagued the PDP at the zonal and national levels. The crisis intensified over the contested position of the PDP National Secretary, pitting Samuel Anyanwu against the South-east leadership’s nominee, Sunday Udeh-Okoye.
The dispute led to legal battles and culminated in the South-east PDP leaders publicly threatening to abandon the party if the National Working Committee refused to ratify their choice of Mr. Udeh-Okoye. Significantly, Mbah’s defection came less than 24 hours after Mr. Udeh-Okoye announced his own resignation from the PDP, suggesting a coordinated exit that had been planned for months. Mbah thanked the PDP for the platform that enabled his 2023 governorship victory before taking the dramatic step.
