Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the move would align Enugu with the federal government and accelerate development.
At a statewide broadcast and press conference on Tuesday, Mbah declared his defection, saying the decision was driven by the need to align Enugu’s ambitions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national reform agenda.
“Our goal is to link Enugu to the federal structure for progress and inclusion,” the governor said. “I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose; a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow.”
He emphasized that both he and President Tinubu share a vision for bold, people-centered governance.
“Together, we share a conviction that transformation must be bold and disruptive; that roads, railways, and airlines must stretch out from the heart of the South-East; that Enugu’s promise, its security, its schools, its hospitals, its markets, its communities, must be reinforced,” Mbah said.
The governor commended the President’s leadership, noting that Enugu has already benefited from several federal programmes. He highlighted the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, saying it complements his administration’s grassroots initiatives.
“We both believe that renewal does not stop at highways or balance sheets. It must reach the ward, the village, and our grassroots. It is in the daily life of the farmer, the trader, and the young entrepreneur that reforms come alive,” he added.
Mbah praised President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, including subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification. He called them “tough but necessary decisions” that release funds for human capital and infrastructure development.
He explained that his defection was not about politics but about “alignment at scale”, a partnership with the federal government to attract funding for projects across Enugu State.
“This move is bigger than politics. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation,” Mbah said, pledging to continue representing Enugu with “strength of purpose.”
Mbah’s defection received strong support from members of the House of Assembly, local council chairmen, and top state officials who also joined the APC.
His switch follows similar moves by other PDP governors, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta; who recently defected with their appointees.
Political analysts believe that as Peter Mbah joins APC, the ruling party’s influence in the South-East could grow significantly ahead of future elections.
The governor appealed for unity and continued support from the people of Enugu as the state “begins a new chapter” in its development journey.
