The All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened its influence in the Southeast on Tuesday with the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to the ruling party.
The party hosted a carnival-like reception to welcome Mbah, who became the third APC governor in the five-state geopolitical zone.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led top party leaders including National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma to receive Mbah and his team before a large crowd in Enugu.
Governor Mbah said his defection was not motivated by fear but by a commitment to align Enugu State with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda and drive prosperity for his people.
“We are not moving from a place of resentment or fear. We are confident of our future. We have no axe to grind, no personal point to make. But fairness, respect, and integrity must guide our choices for that future to be ours,” Mbah said.
Describing President Tinubu as “a partner in purpose and a leader with the courage to make tough choices for lasting prosperity,” Mbah explained that his government’s development philosophy aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Earlier, during a town hall meeting, Mbah officially announced his defection before APC national and state officials, elected representatives, and political appointees.
APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, Deputy National Chairmen Alhaji Ali Dalori and Chief Emma Eneukwu were also present.
The main ceremony took place in the afternoon, where Shettima, Yilwatda, and other party leaders formally welcomed the governor into the APC fold.
Shettima described the event as “a great day for the nation and for Ndigbo,” quoting Kenyan scholar Ali Mazrui, who once likened the Igbo to “the Nigerian Jews — mobile, enterprising, and ambitious.”
“With the coming of Governor Peter Mbah, and with the continuous energy being exhibited by Governors Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru, I believe Ndigbo have come back to the mainstream of Nigerian politics,” Shettima said.
He praised Mbah as “a progressive through and through,” and declared him the new leader of the APC in Enugu State.
“From our constitution, the governor is the leader of the party in his state. You are now the leader of the APC family in Enugu. We are one big family tied in a common destiny,” he said.
Shettima added that the growing wave of defections to the APC reflects the party’s strength and appeal across Nigeria.
“Their departures are not accidents; they reveal the cracks in the walls they built and the strength of the bridges we have constructed,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, APC Chairman Yilwatda, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and Governors Uzodimma and Nwifuru also described the defection as a defining moment for the Southeast.
Presenting the party flag and symbolic broom to Mbah, Yilwatda said, “Your Excellency, take this broom and sweep out the remaining PDP members into the APC. Governor Mbah has taken his people from Egypt to the promised land — from depression to progress.”
Akpabio commended Mbah’s performance, saying, “What I’m seeing here, Enugu is even more beautiful than Abuja. The only place that compares is Akwa Ibom when I was governor,” he joked.
Speaker Abbas described the occasion as “a celebration of unity and expansion,” adding that APC is now positioned to take over the Southeast by 2027.
Uzodimma said the defection “further integrates the Southeast into national politics,” while Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru urged Mbah to “forgive those who wronged you and carry everyone along.”
Former governors Rochas Okorocha, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sullivan Chime, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and PDP State Chairman Martin Chukwunweike were among those who attended.
The ceremony, which began shortly after 4:00 p.m., caused heavy traffic in parts of Enugu, with thousands of residents and supporters trooping out to witness what many described as a turning point in the state’s political history.
Security was tight with combined teams of police, DSS, and NSCDC personnel on duty, while cultural displays and drummers added colour to the event.