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By Myke Agunwa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a fresh setbacks as the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah is set to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mbah, the only PDP governor in the Southeast, is said to be leveraging his longstanding ties with President Bola Tinubu to strengthen their political alliance ahead of 2027. His exit is expected after the PDP National Convention in November, where he serves as secretary of planning committee.
However, many PDP stakeholders and assembly members are opposing the move, citing APC’s unpopularity in Enugu.
Recently, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East, who is from the zone with the governor, on Tuesday left the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). He announced his decision during a town hall meeting in Amuri, Nkanu West, citing unresolved crises and factional struggles within the Labour Party as his main reason.
Chukwu ruled out joining the PDP, describing it as being in disarray. He assured his constituents of continued service and pledged to formally declare his defection on the floor of the senate.
Multiple sources aware of the political development in the state informed Pointblanknews.com that Mbah’s days in PDP are numbered. He said that the governor who has been an old business ally of President Bola Tinubu intends to join the ruling party to cement their relationship and also campaign for him ahead of 2027 general election.
It was gathered that what was holding Mbah’s immediate exit is the PDP National Convention, slated to hold in Ibadan Oyo State from November 15 – 16, 2025 where he is serving as secretary of the Planning Committee and intends to plant his loyalists before he moves.
A source disclosed that major PDP stakeholders and state assembly members are reluctant to follow the governor to his new party. They argued that APC is very unpopular in the state and that Mbah is not under investigation, which warrants him to abandon the umbrella. They are of the view that the massive infrastructural development in the state under his administration will effortlessly earn him a second tenure under the PDP.
“Even though we, the politicians in Enugu state are not happy with the governor because he abandoned us immediately he won the election and working with technocrats but the infrastructural development in the state cannot be denied. Citizens are under a heavy tax burden, but the effect is visible on projects.
“The governor is under pressure from the presidency that his re-election can only be guaranteed if he joins APC. They feel that Tinubu needs to win Enugu state, and the only way it can happen is if Mbah joins APC. But what I know is that even if the governor joins APC, he may be elected, but I shall not vote for Tinubu. If Obi is not on the ballot paper, then I will not vote,” he said.
Another source, a chieftain of the APC said, “We held a meeting with the governor at the old governor’s lodge recently where the deal was sealed. All the materials needed for his declaration have been sent from the headquarters of the APC and we are just waiting for the date.
“Though some APC stalwarts are giving him some conditions while others are afraid that they will become irrelevant when he joins the party, Mbah has shown capacity to weather all storms and he will be an invaluable asset in the APC.”
When reminded that Enugu State is home of PDP he responded, “PDP lost the zone completely in 2023 when they ignored the Southeast and picked their presidential candidate from the north. The party has shown that it has no regard for the southeast and therefore the zone has rejected the party”.
Collaborating this view is Hon. Joe Mammel, former commissioner for Culture and Tourism as well as former Chairman of Ezeagu local government council in the state.
On his Facebook page recently he wrote, “The decision by Governor Peter Mbah to align with the Federal party is a welcome development that holds significant promise for Enugu State. Such a move is expected to attract both infrastructural growth and human capital development, leveraging the advantages that come with political alignment at the national level.
“The Federal Government commands a wealth of opportunities — from high-level appointments to strategic projects — which are often reserved for loyal party members. For states not aligned with the ruling party, it can be challenging to fully accommodate political stakeholders, particularly those who have surpassed state-level positions and require integration into the federal structure.
“Alignment with the Federal Party will also strengthen Enugu State’s capacity to lobby effectively for federal interventions, projects, and developmental support. This synergy ensures that both state and federal agendas move in the same direction for the benefit of the people.
“Beyond the immediate state benefits, this political realignment enhances the South East’s bargaining power in national politics. As the current administration under President Ahmed Tinubu moves toward its eventual transition, a united South East — with a majority of its states in the federal ruling party — will be well-positioned to negotiate strategically for key positions, including the Vice Presidency, when the presidency rotates to the North.
“A strong and united Eastern bloc will not only ensure equitable representation but also foster political balance among the competing southern regions when the next phase of national leadership dynamics unfolds”.
Pointblanknews.com made attempts to speak with Uche Anichukwu, SA Media to the governor about the development but he did not pick his calls nor respond to messages sent to him on WhatsApp.
But a member of the state assembly who would not want his name to be mention but aware of the planned defection said, “Presently, the APC has no seat in the local council, state assembly or national assembly election except Hon. Sunday Umeha who defected to APC recently from Labour Party. The state chapter of the party is factionalized. Most of the APC members have moved into the PDP. So it would be a political suicide if the governor joins a party that cannot even pay rent to maintain its secretariat.
“I understand that the governor has chains of businesses in Lagos and would want to deliver Enugu State to the president in 2027 to keep his business interest, but he should also realize that PDP is still a force to reckon with in the state.”
However, Enugu State Chairman of the PDP Dr. Martins Chukwu said that he is not aware of any plot by the governor to abandon the umbrella.
In a telephone conversation with our reporter he said, “I don’t know what he’s planning. We’ll know when he makes it public. Maybe when he completes the planning with himself, he will now tell others.”
Commenting on how Mbah has brought disruptive infrastructural development in the state he continued,
“He has transformed Enugu into a new state, and he’s still doing more and people are happy with the infrastructure development and other things.”