APC National Working Committee (NWC) has formally presented the Party’s membership card to the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah @PNMbah , officially marking his entry into the APC

Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of speculation about his political future.

Mr Mbah made the announcement on Tuesday during a statewide broadcast in Enugu, confirming his decision to join the ruling party alongside top political officeholders in the state.

According to the governor, all commissioners, local government chairpersons, and councilors across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State have also joined him in the APC. He added that over 80 percent of the PDP executives at various levels had followed suit, marking one of the biggest political realignments in the Southeast in recent years.

“Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah said during the broadcast, which was greeted with cheers from supporters at the Government House.

The defection effectively dissolves the PDP’s dominance in Enugu politics, a state it has controlled since 1999. Mbah, who was elected governor in 2023 under the PDP platform, said his decision was driven by a desire to “align Enugu with the national grid of development” and strengthen collaboration with the federal government.

“This decision was not made lightly,” he explained. “After considering the challenges of governance, the realities of national politics, and the need to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people, we have chosen to work more closely with the government at the centre under the APC.”

Political Implications

Mbah’s defection is expected to significantly reshape the political landscape in the Southeast, where the PDP has been losing influence in recent years. The move also bolsters the APC’s efforts to consolidate power in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Analysts say Mbah’s alignment with the ruling party could ensure easier access to federal support for his administration’s ambitious development projects, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.

However, critics within the PDP have described the move as a betrayal, accusing the governor of “political opportunism.” Party loyalists fear the mass defection could cripple the PDP’s structure in Enugu State and weaken its chances in future elections.

Background

Before his defection, speculations had been rife for weeks following Mbah’s frequent meetings with top APC figures in Abuja, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Mbah, a lawyer and businessman, was elected governor in March 2023 under the PDP banner after serving as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance under former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

His defection makes him the first PDP governor in the Southeast to join the APC since 2023, underscoring the growing political shift in the region.