Enugu's Political Shake-Up: Governor Mbah Leads Mass Exodus from PDP to APC

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering a significant political realignment across Nigeria, especially within the South-East geopolitical zone. This pivotal move involves not just Governor Mbah, but also his deputy, cabinet members, all 17 local government chairmen, councillors, state assembly members, and approximately 80 percent of the PDP’s state executive committee in Enugu, effectively dismantling the party’s structure in the state.

Governor Mbah justified his defection by citing “years of neglect” and “systemic disregard” of the South-East by the PDP leadership. He highlighted specific grievances, including the party’s failure to zone the presidency to the South-East in 2023 and the controversial reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary over the region's preferred candidate, Sunday Udeh-Okoye. Mbah described his decision as a “painful but necessary” step taken in the service of higher principles and goals, aimed at aligning Enugu State with the national centre to ensure its interests are fairly represented and its development vision receives stronger reinforcement.

The announcement elicited varied reactions, particularly from PDP chieftains who largely dismissed its significance. Umar Sani, a former Special Assistant on Media, stated that Mbah's defection “will not shake the PDP,” characterizing it as