Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose.”
Speaking at a press conference in Enugu on Tuesday, Governor Mbah said the defection would facilitate faster development in the state by aligning Enugu’s ambitions with the federal government’s reform agenda.
“I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow,” he said.
He emphasised their shared vision for bold and disruptive transformation, noting the importance of infrastructural development such as roads, railways, and airlines linking the South East to the rest of Nigeria.
“Enugu’s promise — its security, schools, hospitals, markets, and communities — must be reinforced,” Mbah added. “The President has shown not only interest, but a deep and vested commitment to Enugu, recognising our region as a pillar of national progress.”
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The governor highlighted their mutual belief that renewal must extend beyond grand projects and financial reports, reaching into wards, villages, and grassroots communities.
“We both welcome initiatives that decentralise opportunity, strengthen local government capacity, bring seed capital and credit to our youth, and expand healthcare and education at the community level,” he said.
Mbah also expressed support for federal programmes such as the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, saying such decentralised investment would complement his own ward-based initiatives.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he praised the president’s willingness to make difficult decisions like subsidy removals and unifying foreign exchange markets, calling them “smart choices that free resources for investment in our people.”
“This move is bigger than politics — it is about alignment at scale. It is about connecting Enugu’s destiny with the central hub of broader reforms shaping our nation,” Mbah said.
He addressed concerns over whether Enugu’s voice would be heard in Abuja following his defection, promising to continue representing the state “with the same strength of purpose as I have always done.”
The governor appealed to Ndi Enugu for understanding and support as the state embarks on this “new chapter.”
Mbah’s defection marks a significant political shift in the South-East and underscores mounting challenges within the PDP.
