The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, is set to formally defect today from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naijaonpoint understands that Mbah, who was elected on the PDP platform, will move with members of the House of Assembly, council chairmen, councillors and other appointees.
According to The Nation, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is expected in Enugu today, leading a powerful APC delegation that includes the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, to present the APC flag to the governor.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, is also expected to dump the PDP in the coming days, with government insiders confirming that his defection had already been finalised.
A top official in Yenagoa, who spoke with The Nation on Sunday, said, “He will move into the APC in a matter of days.”
Similarly, a PDP governor from the Northeast is said to be preparing to switch camps, with an aide disclosing that the move is awaiting only the “final sorting out of details.”
Earlier in the year, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno defected to the ruling party with their cabinets and political appointees.
Ohanaeze, Traditional Rulers Back Mbah
The move has received strong backing from political leaders, Ohanaeze chieftains and traditional rulers in Enugu.
In a joint statement, Ohanaeze Vice President, Prof. Fred Eze, and National Treasurer, Dr Peter Eke applauded Mbah for “taking the bold step of joining the ruling APC,” describing the decision as “thoughtful and timely.”
They added, “This decision is both thoughtful and timely, considering the compelling need to attract more federal government projects to Enugu. It will not affect the governor’s second-term ambition.”
The group also reaffirmed its commitment to governorship zoning “in the spirit of equity, fairness, and justice in Enugu State.”
‘Support Blind To Party Lines’ – Monarchs, ALGON
The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said Mbah had earned national respect through “trailblazing performance and grassroots-oriented governance.”
“The traditional rulers and people of Enugu State have absolute trust in his judgment. Our support for the governor’s decision is blind to party lines,” he declared.
Chairman of ALGON in Enugu State, Okechukwu Edeh, also said residents were ready to follow the governor’s lead.
“Governor Peter Mbah is the political party Enugu knows today. We believe this is a wise decision, given that our voices no longer count in the other party,” he said.
PDP Accused Of Betraying Southeast
Former Enugu PDP Chairman, Augustine Nnamani, said the mass exodus was not surprising, accusing the PDP of “mistreating and betraying the Southeast” by refusing to recognise Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary.
“The PDP chose a few people in Abuja over the Southeast. Mbah’s exit is in line with our region’s earlier resolution to leave the party if our choice was not respected,” he stated.
With Mbah’s defection, the APC now controls three of the five states in the Southeast, leaving the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with one each.
The PDP, once dominant in the region, no longer controls any state.
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