Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has officially ended his long-standing affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), confirming weeks of heightened speculation over his political future.
Mbah announced the switch on Tuesday during a press conference held in Enugu, which was also broadcast across the state.
Flanked by his predecessor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, lawmakers from the national and state assemblies, local government chairmen, councillors, and several members of his cabinet who have pledged to follow him to the ruling party.
The governor said the decision came after extensive consultations and reflection, adding that it was driven by the desire to link Enugu and the South-East to the nation’s political centre.
He described the APC as a platform with “greater capacity for collaboration, development, and growth.”
“Today, after a long period of reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC. We share a vision that transformation must be disruptive,” Mbah said.
“I have found in His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow,” he added.
The governor, who had been one of the PDP’s key figures in the South-East, described his defection as a collective decision involving his political structure in Enugu, including most members of the PDP State Executive Committee.
He expressed appreciation to the PDP for the platform it provided during the 2023 elections, but lamented that the South-East’s loyalty to the party had not been adequately rewarded.
“To the Peoples Democratic Party, which provided us the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. However, despite our region’s loyalty, our voices were too often disregarded,” he said.
Speculations about Mbah’s planned move to the APC began earlier in the year after reports emerged of meetings between his aides and key figures of the ruling party.
In June, the governor publicly denied rumours of defection, insisting that he remained committed to the PDP. However, the talks resurfaced in September when political associates close to Government House were seen at APC events in Abuja.
The discussions intensified in late September after several members of his cabinet and local government chairmen were said to have held consultations with federal appointees from the South-East.
Tuesday’s declaration by the governor confirmed the speculations, marking a formal alignment of his political structure with the ruling APC.
Mbah becomes the latest PDP governor to join the APC in recent months. Earlier in the year, Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom announced their defections alongside some of their political allies.
The Enugu governor expressed optimism that his decision would strengthen the partnership between the state and the Federal Government.
“This is no whimsical decision. It is a collective move aimed at ensuring Enugu takes its rightful place in national development,” he said.
