Enugu, Nigeria – October 11, 2025 – In a seismic shift that could redefine the political fortunes of Nigeria’s Southeast ahead of the 2027 elections, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah is set to formally defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, accompanied by a sweeping exodus of lawmakers, state executives, and party stalwarts. The move, confirmed by APC national leaders during a Friday inauguration of a new Enugu caretaker committee, has ignited jubilation in ruling party circles while plunging the PDP into disarray, with insiders decrying it as a “betrayal” that erodes the opposition’s regional stronghold.
Mbah, 50, a Harvard-trained lawyer and banker who clinched the governorship in 2023 on the PDP ticket amid tight margins and legal battles, will reportedly lead a formidable contingent: 24 state assembly members, 260 local councillors, and the bulk of the PDP’s ward and local government apparatus in Enugu. The high-profile ceremony, slated for the state capital, will feature top APC brass, including National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Deputy Chairman (South-East) Chief Emma Eneukwu, alongside governors from the party’s fold. APC Deputy Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko hinted at the scale, calling it a “game-changer” that bolsters the party’s Southeast infrastructure.
The defection’s roots trace to months of brewing tensions within the PDP, exacerbated by the party’s national crisis and perceived marginalization of Igbo interests—echoing Mbah’s recent praise for President Bola Tinubu’s “transformative” reforms during an August courtesy call by Information Minister Mohammed Idris. Sources say Mbah, facing internal PDP pushback over his ambitious ₦410 billion 2025 budget and infrastructure drives like the 10,000MW Enugu smart city project, sought wider consultations before pulling the trigger. His absence from key PDP governors’ forums, including a pre-convention huddle in Gusau, fueled early whispers in August.
APC’s preparations underscore the strategic prize: Enugu, with its industrial hubs and voter base, has been a PDP bastion since 1999, but Mbah’s crossover—following similar jumps by Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno earlier this year—could tip the scales for Tinubu’s re-election bid in the Southeast. The party’s new Enugu caretaker committee, chaired by ex-PDP defector Dr. Ben Nwoye, was sworn in Friday at the national secretariat to “reconcile factions and build grassroots momentum,” with Nwoye confirming: “The governor is coming with his full team—this is a new direction for Enugu.”
Backlash has been swift and sharp. PDP chieftain Chief Ray Nnaji branded the move “political suicide,” slamming Mbah’s governance as “mortgaging the state’s future” through public-private partnerships and warning of a “hostile reception” in APC’s internal wars. Enugu APC insiders, led by state chairman Ugochukwu Agballah, expressed unease over potential power tussles, with Nwoye’s camp eyeing a leadership overhaul. Social media erupted under #MbahToAPC, blending memes of “PDP’s Southeast surrender” with Igbo activists’ laments: “From opposition fortress to ruling party pawn?” tweeted @VoiceOfTheEast, whose post drew over 4,000 views.
Mbah, yet to issue a direct statement, has long positioned himself as a pragmatic reformer, touting youth empowerment and water supply overhauls in his first two years. Allies frame the switch as “alignment with federal progress,” but critics see opportunism amid PDP’s 2023 election woes. As Taraba’s Agbu Kefas faces similar rumors, this Enugu jolt signals a PDP hemorrhage that could leave the opposition scrambling for 2027 relevance.
Tuesday’s event looms as a litmus test: Will it unify APC’s fractious Enugu chapter, or ignite fresh feuds? In Nigeria’s fluid political arena, one governor’s pivot could rewrite the map.
Follow live updates on the defection via APC’s official X handle (@OfficialAPCNg) or Vanguard Nigeria.