…some PDP loyalists described Peter Mbah’s move as a betrayal of party loyalty, others say it is a pragmatic political decision
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The political landscape of the South-East has witnessed a dramatic shift as it has now been officially confirmed that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made on Friday by the national leadership of the APC at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, ending weeks of speculation over Peter Mbah’s next political move.
According to APC National Chairman, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the Enugu State governor will formally defect to the ruling party on Tuesday next week, in a high-profile ceremony scheduled to take place in Enugu, the Coal City State.
Yilwatda, who made the disclosure during the swearing-in of the newly inaugurated Enugu State APC executive, said the defection follows months of strategic engagement between Peter Mbah and key party leaders at both national and state levels.
Also present at the briefing was the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Chief Emma Eneukwu, who confirmed that the move had been “in the works for some time” and that all arrangements for a smooth defection have been concluded.
“We are delighted to announce that Governor Peter Mbah will be officially joining the APC next Tuesday in Enugu, along with his aides, loyalists, and a large number of supporters. This marks a major milestone for our great party in the South-East,” Yilwatda said.
The event, according to party insiders, will be hosted by the newly inaugurated Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, who has played a leading role in facilitating Peter Mbah’s defection. Nwoye, a former state chairman of the party, has been instrumental in building bridges between the APC hierarchy and influential political figures in Enugu.
“Dr. Nwoye has shown exceptional leadership and political strategy in bringing Governor Mbah on board. With him now at the helm of affairs, he will have the honor of officially receiving the governor into the APC family,” Yilwatda added.
Sources within both parties confirmed that Peter Mbah’s decision to leave the PDP stemmed from deep-seated disagreements within the party’s national leadership, particularly over the controversy surrounding the position of National Secretary.
Crisis began when the PDP’s national leadership rejected the nomination of SKE Ude-Okoye, the choice of the South-East leaders and delegates, and instead retained Senator Samuel Anyanwu in the position.
Governor Peter Mbah, alongside other key political stakeholders from the South-East, had earlier warned the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) that failure to ratify Ude-Okoye’s appointment would force them to reconsider their loyalty to the party.
However, despite the warning, the NEC went ahead to adopt Senator Anyanwu, a move that many within the party’s South-East structure described as “a slap in the face” to the region’s political leadership.
The fallout from that decision appears to have reached its peak with Mbah’s defection, which now leaves the PDP without a single sitting governor in the entire South-East, a region that was once considered one of its strongest political bases.
Political observers say Peter Mbah’s defection could redefine the balance of power in the zone, giving the APC a stronger foothold ahead of the 2027 general elections. With this development, the APC now boasts increasing influence across the South-East, having already gained momentum in recent years through strategic alliances and defections from other parties.
Party loyalists in Enugu are said to be making elaborate plans for Tuesday’s ceremony, which is expected to draw high-ranking APC leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, top ministers, and governors from across the country.
Meanwhile, reactions have begun to trail the announcement. While some PDP loyalists described Mbah’s move as a betrayal of party loyalty, others say it is a pragmatic political decision in light of the PDP’s internal divisions and dwindling influence.
Analysts believe Mbah’s defection could trigger a new wave of political realignments in the South-East, with many local politicians expected to follow suit.
For the PDP, however, this latest blow underscores the urgent need for internal reforms and reconciliation, as the once-dominant party continues to lose grip of regions it previously controlled with ease.
With Mbah’s exit now confirmed, the PDP’s decline in the South-East appears complete, signaling the end of an era for a party that once held sway in the region’s political affairs.
