Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that the increasing number of politicians leaving their parties to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a clear indication of internal fragmentation within the opposition ranks.
Speaking at a grand reception in Enugu for Governor Peter Mbah, his cabinet, and thousands of supporters who formally joined the APC, Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu, described the move as a major endorsement of the governing party’s collective vision.
“Their departures are not accidents; they reveal the cracks in the walls they built and the strength of the bridges we have constructed,” Shettima said.
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He noted that while the opposition is showing signs of division, the APC is consolidating its power through unity.
He characterised the APC as a political home where “ideas find expression, where ambitions find direction, and where patriotism finds partnership.”
Addressing the massive crowd at the Michael Okpara Square, Shettima attributed the APC’s rise to the most formidable political platform in Africa to Tinubu’s inclusive leadership, his ability to listen, and his belief in merit over sentiment.
“His sense of inclusion, his rare capacity to listen, and his belief in merit over sentiment have made the APC the most formidable political family in Africa,” Shettima stated.
He added that progressive and visionary minds are drawn to the party because it represents “order over chaos, progress over paralysis, and hope over despair.”
Shettima suggested that Mbah, who was formerly under the opposition’s umbrella symbol, might have had the APC’s broom symbol “hidden in his umbrella all these years.”
He reminded the governor that, in line with party tradition, he is now the leader of the APC in Enugu State and carries the responsibility of rebuilding the party there, assuring him of Tinubu’s full support.
During the event, the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, welcomed Mbah, praising his developmental work in the education sector and on roads, which he said demonstrated a “progressive heart.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also commended Mbah’s performance, with the Speaker assuring the governor of fair treatment within the APC family and suggesting the defection signals the eventual alignment of the entire South East region with the progressive family.
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Declaring his membership, Mbah described the APC as the largest political party in Africa and stated that his defection, a collective decision of the entire political family of the state, marks a new beginning to end segmented politics and seize opportunities at the national level.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma, expressed excitement over Mbah’s move, believing it will strengthen support for Tinubu and enhance the South East region’s position in national politics.
