BY GODWIN OBI
The political landscape of the Southeast shook yesterday as Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — a move that has been hailed by party leaders as a defining moment in the region’s political realignment.
With his defection, Governor Mbah becomes the third APC governor in the five-state Southeast zone, signaling what many described as a “strategic return of Ndigbo to the national mainstream.”
The ruling party rolled out the red carpet in grand style. From Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led the welcoming team, to APC National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma, the event was a power show that virtually shut down Enugu City.
Speaking before a massive crowd of party faithful, Mbah declared that his move to the APC was not out of fear or political pressure, but a deliberate choice for prosperity and progress.
“We are not moving out of resentment or fear,” Mbah said. “We are confident about our future. We seek a partnership based on fairness, respect, and integrity — and we have found that in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision.”
Mbah described President Tinubu as “a courageous reformer and a partner in purpose,” saying his administration’s development blueprint aligns with the President’s national transformation agenda.
Earlier at a town hall meeting, Mbah had informed local and national APC stakeholders of his decision before a sea of party chieftains that included APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, Deputy National Chairmen Ali Dalori and Emma Eneukwu, and several former governors.
The climax came later in the day when Vice President Shettima officially received Mbah into the APC family, declaring:
“Today is a great day for Ndigbo and for Nigeria. With Governor Mbah joining forces with Governors Uzodimma and Nwifuru, the Southeast is back in the mainstream of national politics.”
Shettima praised Mbah as “a progressive through and through”, adding that, by APC tradition, Mbah automatically becomes the leader of the party in Enugu State.
“The APC is now home to the most visionary leaders in Nigeria. Our bridges are growing stronger as the walls of division collapse,” Shettima said to loud applause.
Other party heavyweights echoed the sentiment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described Mbah’s defection as “the beginning of a new dawn for the Southeast,” quipping:
“What I see here in Enugu is even more beautiful than Abuja — the only comparison is Akwa Ibom when I was governor!”
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, hailed the move as “a celebration of unity and expansion”, while APC Chairman Yilwatda handed Mbah the party flag and symbolic broom, saying:
“Your Excellency, take this broom and sweep away the remnants of the PDP. You’ve led your people from Egypt to the Promised Land — from depression to progress.”
Governors Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru called the defection a “watershed moment for Igbo political reintegration”, urging Mbah to carry everyone along.
The atmosphere in Enugu was electric — drums rolled, cultural troupes danced, and the crowd roared as motorcades clogged major roads from Government House Avenue to Independence Layout.
Security was tight as teams from the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and Transport Ministry kept order during what many described as a political carnival that marked Enugu’s bold leap into Nigeria’s ruling fold.
With Mbah’s entry, the APC appears to have tightened its grip on the Southeast — and set the stage for a fierce political showdown ahead of 2027.
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