Mbah Dumps PDP for APC, says Enugu’s Voice Ignored

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that his decision was driven by the need to align with a party that truly listens to and represents the aspirations of his people.

In a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning, Mbah announced his resignation from the PDP, ending his decades-long affiliation with the party. The defection also saw his immediate predecessor, former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, several state and federal lawmakers, and other key political figures join him in the move. Former Governor Sullivan Chime and other APC leaders were present at the event.

Expressing appreciation to the PDP for its past support, Mbah said leadership sometimes demands “difficult, even painful decisions” in pursuit of higher principles.

“For nearly three decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu State walked side by side, united by a shared purpose,” he said. “Yet, there comes a time when every people must make a bold choice to determine their destiny. Today, we have made that choice—to leave the PDP and join the APC.”

According to the governor, the decision was a collective one involving National and State Assembly members, members of the State Executive Council, and more than 80 percent of party executives and political appointees in Enugu.

Mbah lamented that despite the South-East’s consistent loyalty to the PDP for many years, the region’s voice “was too often disregarded.” He explained that joining the APC was a strategic step to ensure that the interests of Enugu people are “heard, represented, and respected.”

The governor described his move as a partnership for transformation and praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership vision.

“I see in President Tinubu a visionary partner. We share a conviction that true transformation must be disruptive,” he stated.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and members of the APC National Working Committee led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda are expected to formally welcome Mbah into the ruling party in Abuja.