Governor Mbah’s move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has caused a profound split and major political turmoil in Enugu State.

APC Paves the Way for Mbah’s Entry

The defection move gained traction after the APC on Wednesday dissolved its Enugu State Executive Committee, a strategic move interpreted as clearing the path for Governor Mbah’s grand entry into the party.
The newly inaugurated APC Caretaker Chairman for Enugu, Dr. Ben Nwoye, confirmed the impending shift, stating that the defection is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Nwoye boasted that Mbah will not be coming alone, but will bring the entire PDP structure in the state with him:
“The governor is coming in with 260 ward councillors. They will be declaring with the governor. He will be coming in with the 24 members of the House of Assembly. He will be coming in with members of the National Assembly. He will also be coming with the entire Exco.”

He added that Mbah’s move is intended to anchor the APC’s “Renewed Hope Agenda in the South-East,” signaling a major political win for the ruling party in the region.

The Core Reason: Seeking Federal Might

According to PDP insiders who oppose the move, the primary motivation for Mbah’s defection is to leverage “federal might to achieve his re-election bid in 2027,” a task they predict will be “herculean” regardless of his party affiliation.

Divided Loyalties Rock the PDP

The news has deeply divided the Enugu PDP along clear fault lines:
Pro-Defection Faction: Chieftains loyal to Mbah, including the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Uchenna Obute, essentially confirmed their commitment, stating, “Peter Mbah is our party. So, what else do you want me to tell you if somebody says the governor is his political party? It means that wherever he goes, there we go.”
Anti-Defection Faction: Other influential PDP members have vowed to stay and rebuild the party, accusing the governor of marginalizing them and owing state lawmakers salaries. Former National Auditor of the PDP, Chief Ray Nnaji, predicted that only a minority (less than 20 per cent) of the PDP members would follow the governor.
The dissenting members accuse Mbah of having “destroyed the party” by sidelining stakeholders who helped him win the 2023 election and relying instead on outside consultants. They confirmed they are “just waiting for him to step out so that we will regroup and rebuild the party.”