Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political realignment in the South-East.
Governor Mbah made the announcement in a statewide broadcast from the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation surrounding his political future.
He was joined in the defection by all members of the State Executive Council, the 17 local government chairpersons, all councillors, and more than 80 percent of the PDP executives in the state.
“Today, after long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Governor Mbah declared, addressing jubilant supporters.
“This is not a whimsical decision. It is a collective move by our political family in Enugu State—comprising members of the National and State Assemblies, the State Executive Council, local government chairmen, councillors, and over 80 percent of PDP executives.”
Former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was present at the declaration ceremony, though it remains unclear whether he has also defected.
‘Connecting Enugu to the Centre’
Governor Mbah expressed gratitude to the PDP for the platform that brought him to office but said his defection was aimed at “connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central government.”
“This move is bigger than politics—it is about alignment at scale,” he said. “It’s about connecting Enugu to the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation.”
The governor praised President Bola Tinubu, describing the defection as a step toward a “visionary partnership” with the federal administration.
“The president has demonstrated a deep and vested commitment to Enugu, recognising our region as a pillar of national progress,” he added. “We share a belief that true renewal must reach the ward, the village, and the grassroots where the farmer, trader, and young entrepreneur live.”
Political Implications
The defection effectively brings an end to over two decades of PDP dominance in Enugu State, which had remained one of the party’s last strongholds in the South-East.
With this development, the APC now controls Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi states, while Anambra and Abia remain under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Labour Party (LP), respectively.
Background
Governor Mbah was elected on the PDP platform in 2023. His defection comes after prolonged internal crises within the party’s South-East leadership, particularly over the contest for the position of National Secretary between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye.
The dispute, which led to multiple court rulings and factional tensions, reportedly deepened divisions within the PDP across the region. By mid-2025, regional leaders had openly threatened to leave the party if the national leadership failed to recognise Udeh-Okoye’s nomination.
Governor Mbah’s exit—and the mass defection of his political structure—signals a dramatic power shift in the South-East and strengthens the APC’s foothold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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