Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking one of the most significant political realignments in Nigeria’s South-East region in recent years. Mbah announced his decision during a press conference in Enugu on Tuesday, describing it as a strategic move to deepen development and align Enugu with what he called a “broader national vision.”
Addressing journalists and party supporters, the governor said his defection was the outcome of months of reflection and consultations with political stakeholders across the state. “Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past, and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead,” Mbah said. “This is not about politics as usual. It is about aligning our values, our aspirations, and our people with a national purpose that secures a better future for Enugu.”
Mbah praised the people of Enugu for their trust since he took office, saying their faith had made it possible to deliver visible transformation across the state. He cited achievements including the establishment of Smart Green Schools nearing completion, primary healthcare centers in all 260 wards, a Command and Control Centre powered by AI-based surveillance, and a significant drop in crime rates. The governor also pointed to over 1,000 kilometers of newly paved roads, a 600 percent increase in internally generated revenue, improved water supply, and a revived hospitality and tourism sector that, he said, had placed Enugu “on the national and global map.”
Reflecting on his relationship with the PDP, under whose platform he was elected, Mbah expressed gratitude to the party and its members. “For nearly three decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu walked side by side, united by shared purpose,” he said. “But leadership sometimes demands difficult — even painful — decisions. After deep reflection, we have decided to join the All Progressives Congress.”
The governor emphasized that the decision was not a personal or impulsive move, but a collective one supported by the political leadership in Enugu State. “This is a collective decision by our political family — members of the National Assembly, the State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, councillors, political appointees, and over 80 percent of our party executives,” he explained.
Mbah said his administration had concluded that aligning with the APC would give Enugu a stronger voice in national affairs and better access to partnerships that could accelerate development in the South-East. “For decades, our region stood firmly behind the PDP, showing loyalty that shaped its success,” he said. “Yet, our voices were too often disregarded. It has become necessary to seek a platform where our interests are represented in the form of fair partnership.”
The governor described his defection as “a visionary partnership” with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he praised for demonstrating courage and commitment to economic reforms. “I have found in President Tinubu not just a leader, but a partner in purpose — a man with the courage to make tough choices that secure lasting prosperity,” Mbah said. “We share the belief that renewal must reach every community, every ward, every farmer, trader, and young entrepreneur.”
Mbah highlighted the federal government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which aims to empower over eight million Nigerians across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards, as an initiative consistent with his own administration’s ward-based development strategy.
He acknowledged that recent national reforms — including subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification — had brought economic strain but insisted they were necessary to build a more resilient economy. “Some choices demand sacrifice,” he said. “But they are the smart choices that free resources for investment in our people.”
In closing, Mbah reassured residents that his defection would not slow the pace of ongoing projects in Enugu State. “This is not a detour, but a conscious step toward a more compelling future,” he said. “Our Igbo identity and values remain the same. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level.”
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for what he described as “support and encouragement” toward Enugu’s development plans. “This marks the beginning of a new era of growth and progress,” Mbah concluded. “Tomorrow is here.”
