Tsunami in Enugu as VP Shettima Receives Gov. Mbah, Others into APC Today

By Our Reporter
Enugu State is bracing for what political observers are calling a “political tsunami,” as Governor Peter Mbah is set to officially defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) today, alongside key members of his administration and political allies.

The defection, which is expected to redraw the political map of the South East, will be formalised at a grand reception ceremony in Enugu, where Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead a high-powered federal delegation to receive Mbah into the APC fold.

According to a statement issued in Enugu by Mbah’s Senior Special Assistant on External Relations, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, the event will also be attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as well as governors, ministers, and federal lawmakers.

Anichukwu said that the governor’s decision followed what he described as the “unjust treatment” meted out to Mbah and the South East by the PDP leadership. He noted that the PDP had ignored calls from the region to recognise Mr. Samuel Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, a move that many in the zone saw as marginalisation.

“The PDP chose a few individuals in Abuja over and above the collective will of the South East,” Anichukwu quoted former Enugu State PDP Chairman, Mr. Augustine Nnamani, as saying. “The party’s failure to respect its own zoning agreement has cost it one of the best-performing governors in the country.”

Nnamani lamented that the PDP, which once controlled all five states in the South East, has now been reduced to irrelevance in the region, warning that the exodus triggered by Mbah’s defection could signal the party’s total collapse in the zone.

Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Enugu State Chapter, has endorsed Mbah’s move, describing it as “a thoughtful and strategic decision” aimed at deepening Enugu’s access to federal government projects and influence.

In a statement signed by its Vice President General representing Enugu State, Prof. Fred Eze, and National Treasurer, Dr. Peter Aneke, Ohanaeze reaffirmed its support for the state’s long-standing zoning arrangement while praising Mbah’s efforts at promoting unity and development.

“We commend Governor Mbah for his visionary leadership and his commitment to ensuring that Enugu continues to attract meaningful federal presence,” the statement read. “This decision is in the best interest of the state and aligns with the aspirations of the Igbo people for greater inclusion in national politics.”

The Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, also expressed support for the governor, describing him as “a trailblazer whose performance in just over two years has brought pride to Enugu.”

“As traditional rulers, we have absolute trust in his judgement. Whatever decision he takes is guided by his love for the people,” Asadu said. “This move is about progress, development, and the future of our children.”

Similarly, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State Chapter, Mr. Okechukwu Edeh, declared that the people of the state were solidly behind the governor.

“As we have said before, Governor Peter Mbah is the political party Enugu State knows today,” Edeh remarked. “This is a wise and timely decision. When we realised that our voices no longer counted in the PDP, we knew it was time to chart a new political course.”

Political analysts say Mbah’s defection could mark a major turning point for the APC in the South East, a region where the party has historically struggled to gain ground. With Mbah’s entry, the APC is expected to consolidate its base and potentially alter the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Today’s event, insiders say, is expected to attract thousands of supporters and mark one of the most significant political realignments in the region’s recent history.