Governor Mbah Gives Reasons for Dumping PDP, Declares Enugu’s Move to APC “A Step Towards Fairness and Partnership”
In a landmark political shift that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has announced the state’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Addressing citizens in a state broadcast on Tuesday, Governor Mbah described the move as a “bold and historic chapter” in the journey of Enugu State, anchored on fairness, partnership, and the pursuit of national relevance.
In a speech titled *“My Dear Ndi Enugu,”* the governor said the decision came after extensive reflection and consultations with political stakeholders across the state. He noted that the PDP, which had enjoyed the loyalty and support of the people of Enugu and the wider South East for almost three decades, had increasingly sidelined the region in key national matters.
> “For nearly three decades, our state and indeed the South East gave the PDP unwavering loyalty, carrying the party on our shoulders with commitment and sacrifice. Yet, when critical national decisions were taken, our voices were too often ignored,” Mbah lamented.
He said the decision was neither motivated by personal ambition nor resentment, but by the urgent need to ensure that the people of Enugu have a stronger voice in the nation’s political and economic discourse.
“This is not about resentment. It is not about personal ambition. It is about fairness, respect, and partnership. Our people deserve to be heard at the centre of power. The PDP no longer represented a viable vehicle for our aspirations,” he declared.
According to the governor, Enugu’s transition to the APC was a collective decision, not a solo move. He disclosed that members of the National Assembly from the state, all 17 Local Government Chairmen, the entire Executive Council, councillors, political appointees, and over 80% of PDP executives in Enugu State had joined him in crossing over to the APC.
> “We have joined the APC — not alone, but as a collective. Members of the National Assembly, the State House of Assembly, the Executive Council, all 17 Local Government Chairmen, councillors, political appointees, and over 80% of party executives in Enugu have made this journey with me,” he said.
Governor Mbah praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as a “partner in courage and vision,” citing the President’s commitment to bold reforms such as subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and fiscal restructuring as evidence of leadership in action.
> “Why APC? Because I have found in His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not just a national leader but a partner in courage and vision. Like us in Enugu, he has chosen bold reforms — removing subsidies, unifying exchange rates, confronting inefficiency, hard choices that free resources for the people,” Mbah said.
Highlighting the strides recorded by his administration within a short time, the governor listed several achievements that he said had transformed Enugu into a model of development in the South East and beyond.
> “It looks like Smart Green Schools rising across our communities and primary healthcare centres in all 260 wards. It looks like crime reduced by 80% through AI-embedded security systems and Distress Response Squads. It looks like water flowing again through restored mains, over a thousand kilometres of paved roads, and our Internally-Generated Revenue growing six times,” he said.
Mbah further pointed to ongoing projects such as the Enugu Air service, the International Conference Centre, 260 farm estates, and eco-tourism initiatives as evidence of the administration’s commitment to economic expansion and job creation.
> “Our Internally-Generated Revenue has multiplied sixfold. Hotel Presidential and Nigergas are roaring back to life. Enugu Air now connects us to other cities, while our International Conference Centre is fully booked. These are not promises; they are realities because you believed in us,” he affirmed.
Emphasizing that the shift to APC would not dilute the state’s cultural identity or regional pride, Mbah reassured the people that Enugu’s Igbo heritage remains intact.
> “Our Igbo identity does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our voice is now stronger, our hand firmer, our future brighter,” he said.
Governor Mbah described the political realignment as a “conscious step toward fairness, partnership, and accelerated growth,” calling on citizens to stand by his administration in this new phase of governance.
> “This is not a detour. It is a conscious step towards fairness, partnership, and accelerated growth. I ask for your understanding, your trust, and your continued support as we walk this new path together,” he appealed.
He concluded the address on an optimistic note, reiterating his administration’s commitment to inclusive development and good governance.
> “Tomorrow is here — and with your support, the best of Enugu is yet to come,” he declared.
With this move, Enugu becomes the first state in the South East under a PDP governor to officially defect to the APC, signaling a major political realignment that could reshape the region’s engagement with the federal government in the years ahead.
