Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, along with his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, cabinet members, and the entire political structure, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday. This significant move, which saw the defection announced at Okpara Square in Enugu, effectively leaves the PDP with no states in the South-east geo-political zone, marking a major shift in the country's political landscape.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu at the reception, declared Governor Mbah as the new leader of the APC in Enugu State, in line with the party's convention and constitution. Shettima drew parallels with other states, emphasizing that the governor is the ultimate party leader in their respective states. He described the Igbo as “the Nigerian Jews,” highlighting their geographical mobility, economic enterprise, and educational ambition, while lamenting their political marginalization for over a decade. He called for greater inclusion for the Ndigbo under the Tinubu administration, believing that Mbah’s entry, combined with the efforts of Governors Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru, would bring the Ndigbo into the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

Shettima lauded President Tinubu as a “leader for all citizens,” attributing the APC’s formidable rise as