Mbah’s Planned Defection to APC Splits Enugu PDP Members
The planned defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stirred division within the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Findings by Saturday PUNCH indicate that while some PDP leaders loyal to the governor have welcomed the move, others have vowed not to follow him to the ruling party.
The APC had on Wednesday dissolved the Enugu State Executive Committee to clear the way for Mbah’s expected defection. During the inauguration of a seven-member caretaker committee in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Deputy National Chairman (South), Emma Eneukwu, said the restructuring was part of efforts to strengthen the APC’s influence in the South-East.
Speaking with journalists after his swearing-in, the newly appointed Enugu APC Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, said the governor would officially join the ruling party on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, along with key state and federal lawmakers, council chairmen, and other political leaders.
“For the past ten years, Enugu State has been in opposition, but that will change on Tuesday when the governor declares for the APC,” Nwoye said.
“He is not coming alone — he’s coming with 260 ward councillors, 24 members of the House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly, and the entire state executive council. Political evangelism has started. Governor Mbah has agreed to move with us into the APC, and he’s coming with the full structure of Enugu PDP. Where Enugu goes, the South-East goes.”
Nwoye further praised Mbah’s performance, describing him as “the anchor of the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the South-East.”
However, not all PDP members are in support of the move.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in Enugu State, Chief Uchenna Obute, said Mbah remained the leader of the PDP in the state and region, adding that his direction largely determined the party’s course.
“We have made it known that Peter Mbah is our party. So if somebody says the governor is his political party, it means wherever he goes, we go,” Obute said.
He, however, clarified that Mbah had not formally informed the PDP leadership of his plan to defect.
A source close to the governor confirmed discussions about his move to the APC but said the defection might not happen on Tuesday as speculated.
But other PDP members have distanced themselves from the governor’s move, insisting that only a small number of his aides would join him.
“As we speak, members of the House of Assembly have not been paid their salaries and allowances for two months. This is not new — he often owes for months before making payments after pressure,” one lawmaker told Saturday PUNCH.
A former National Auditor of the PDP, Chief Ray Nnaji, also dismissed the defection, saying most party members would remain in the PDP.
“Those who will follow him to the APC won’t be up to 20 percent of PDP members in the state,” Nnaji said. “We are waiting for him to step out so we can rebuild the party. He sidelined stakeholders who helped him win in 2023, preferring Lagos-based consultants and friends.”
Nnaji further accused the governor of aligning with the APC for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.
“He is defecting because he wants federal backing for his re-election bid, which will be a tough battle for him,” he added.
