Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah Tuesday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Mbah announced his decision at a press conference on Tuesday in Enugu, the state capital, saying the move was driven by his desire to better serve the people of the state and align with the APC’s vision for sustainable development and progress.
The governor expressed optimism that his new political platform would offer broader opportunities for collaboration and economic growth, reaffirming his commitment to advancing Enugu’s interests.
“Today, after a long period of reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC,” Mbah declared.
Earlier, Mr Uche Anichukwu, the Senior Special Assistant to Mbah on External Relations, had announced that Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima; President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas were expected in Enugu to receive Mbah to APC.
Others are the APC National Working Committee led by the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, governors as well as ministers, federal lawmakers and appointees, among others.
Anichukwu quoted various critical segments of the state as well as Ohanaeze Ndigbo to have thrown their weight behind Mbah’s decision to move into the APC.
He said that the former Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Augustine Nnamani maintained that PDP had itself to blame for precipitating the mass exodus from the party in Enugu State.
The chairman said that the party “mistreated and betrayed the people of the South East” and Gov. Mbah by its failure to recognise Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary in line with established tradition in the party.
“The PDP chose a few people in Abuja over and above the South East. Mbah has exited as spelt out in their region’s communique in May to leave the party if its choice was not respected,” he added.
He regretted that the crisis in the PDP and injustice to the region had cost the party one of the best performing governors presently in Nigeria and reduced the PDP from controlling the five South East states to losing everything.
The governors aide added that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Enugu State Chapter, equally applauded Mbah, “for taking the bold step of joining the ruling APC”.
According to him, this decision is both thoughtful and timely, considering the compelling need to attract more federal government projects to Enugu State.
He said the statement signed by Ohanaeze’s Vice President General representing Enugu State, Prof. Fred Eze and the National Treasurer, Dr. Peter Aneke, the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, reiterated its commitment for the zoning arrangement in the state.
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“We remain committed to upholding the long-standing zoning tradition for the office of the Governor, in the spirit of equity, fairness, and justice in Enugu State,” the statement read.
Anichukwu also quoted the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, saying that Mbah had earned national acclaim and the trust of the people by his “trailblazing performance and grassroots-oriented development in the last 26 months.
“Therefore, the traditional rulers and people of Enugu State have absolute trust in his judgement. We wish him the best as he chats this new political course because it is rooted in the good of Enugu State. it is all about the people.
“The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Enugu State chapter, Mr Okechukwu Edeh, expressed the readiness of the people to move in the direction of the governor.
“As we have said earlier, Gov. Peter Mbah is the political party Enugu State knows today. Besides, we believe that this is a wise decision.
“When it was stated earlier that we would chart a new political course when our voices no longer counted in the other political party,” ALGON chairman stated.
