The political landscape of Enugu State is experiencing significant shifts, marked by a recent mass defection that saw over 5,000 members of opposition parties formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC). This major rally, held in Aku town, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, was spearheaded by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, who led a high-powered delegation of APC leaders. Among the prominent figures present were the state APC chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah; House of Representatives member for Udi-Ezeagu federal constituency, Hon. Sunday Umeha; and the Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike Muonso. The influx of new members, including those from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), signifies a growing acceptance of the APC in the state.

Addressing the large gathering, Minister Nnaji emphasized that the increasing wave of defections to the APC is a clear indication that residents are beginning to acknowledge and appreciate the developmental projects being executed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the state. He, however, sharply criticized the Enugu State government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, for what he termed as the misapplication of resources and the imposition of excessive taxes. Nnaji highlighted the severe economic hardship faced by residents, stating that Enugu has become the second most expensive city in Nigeria, a stark anomaly for a civil service town. He condemned the high daily taxes levied even on small-scale hawkers, estimating it to be over N100,000 annually per individual, funds he believes, if properly utilized, could provide free education, better health facilities, and crucial infrastructure for the state.

Chief Nnaji commended Engr. Celestine Attah, a former House of Assembly candidate under APGA, for his pivotal role in leading members of various opposition parties into the APC fold. The Minister assured the new members and the people of Igbo-Etiti of more employment opportunities for young people from the area and increased federal infrastructure across the state. He asserted that the APC in Enugu State has been strategically repositioned to take over the governance of the state in 2027. He appealed to the people of Enugu to wholeheartedly support the party and President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, promising that such support would attract more federal appointments and essential infrastructure to the state. Nnaji also distinguished the current APC from its past, stating, “The coming election will not be like the previous one because right now we have a party; before we didn’t have a party, APC before was a mercantile party, a party they used for trading in Enugu state, they used it to trade with PDP. But now all the moles who were trading with the party have been shown the way out.”

Echoing the Minister’s sentiments, the state APC chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for critical ongoing federal projects, particularly the reconstruction and dualization of the Ninth Mile – Opi – Makurdi road. Agballah lamented that for 26 years under previous administrations, Igbo-Etiti local government was largely inaccessible due to collapsed road infrastructure, a situation only ameliorated by the advent of President Tinubu’s APC government, despite the area not having voted for the party previously. He reiterated the APC’s commitment to intentional politics, describing it as a party for “serious-minded ideological change oriented progressives” determined to alter the status quo in Enugu. He blamed the one-party system of the PDP for Enugu’s decline, from being the foremost state in the South-East to now lagging behind. Agballah vowed that the APC would introduce creative, high-performing governance and foster competitive democracy in the state, encouraging both ruling and opposition parties to present credible candidates to ensure accountability and progress.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Engr. Celestine Attah articulated the key motivations behind their decision to join the APC. He specifically highlighted President Tinubu’s commendable actions, including the appointment of an Enugu indigene as Chief of Naval Staff, the establishment of a Naval College and Naval base in Uzo-Uwani, and the appointment of an Enugu indigene as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The ongoing construction of the 9th Mile-Opi road was also cited as a significant factor. Attah declared that the mass rally and defections serve as a foundational contribution towards the APC’s victory in Enugu State, aiming for the party to assume governance by 2027.