Peter Mbah joins APC, citing PDP’s disregard for Southeast voices and aligns with Tinubu’s vision for transformative leadership
Peter Mbah joins APC in a landmark political shift that signals the end of an era for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State and the wider Southeast region.
Also read: Peter Mbah Joins APC in Bold Move to Boost Enugu Growth
In a televised address on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, Governor Mbah announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the PDP had “disregarded the voices” of the Southeast despite decades of loyalty from the region.
Speaking from Enugu, the governor declared that leadership demands courage, and that it was time to embrace a political platform more aligned with the people’s aspirations.
“Today, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah said.
“Leadership sometimes demands difficult, even painful decisions in service of higher goals.”
Mbah’s defection wasn’t a solo act. Joining him were his predecessor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, several State and National Assembly members, State Executive Council members, and more than 80 per cent of PDP appointees and party executives in Enugu.
Also present at the APC welcome ceremony were former Governor Sullivan Chime and other prominent political figures, marking a seismic realignment in Enugu’s political landscape.
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the switch reflects a broader dissatisfaction among Southeast leaders with how the PDP has handled regional concerns.
Governor Mbah explained that despite the unwavering support the PDP enjoyed from the Southeast for nearly 30 years, the party consistently ignored the region’s priorities.
“Our voices were too often disregarded,” he said.
“The time has come to seek a platform where the interests of our people are truly represented.”
This decision, Mbah stated, is about realigning with a vision for disruptive transformation, which he claims to share with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mbah praised President Tinubu’s governance approach, describing it as one rooted in disruption, reform and decisive action.
“We share a vision that transformation must be disruptive,” Mbah noted, citing Tinubu’s track record on structural reforms and federal allocations that have improved state-level financial autonomy.
The defection was expected to be formally recognised by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who were scheduled to welcome Mbah into the party.
Peter Mbah’s move to the APC is likely to deepen the PDP’s internal crisis, particularly in the Southeast where defections are beginning to reshape political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It follows a recent wave of high-profile exits from the PDP, including governors and lawmakers from other states, raising questions about the party’s ability to stay competitive on the national stage.
Also read: APC dissolves Enugu executive committee amid party restructuring
For Mbah, however, the shift appears strategic and ideological. As he framed it: “This is not just about politics. It’s about honouring the trust of my people.”
