- By AnchorNews Political Desk

Enugu, Nigeria - In what observers have described as a defining political moment for Enugu State, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on Tuesday formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the decision was “not whimsical” but a “collective move to secure Enugu’s future through alignment at scale.”

Addressing a crowd of supporters and government officials in Enugu, Mbah said his defection marks “a break from the past” and a conscious step toward strengthening the state’s partnership with the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Today, after long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress. This is no whimsical decision,” the governor stated. “It’s a collective move by the political family in Enugu State - members of the National Assembly, State House of Assembly, Executive Council, local government chairmen, councillors, and over 80 percent of party executives.”

Mbah, who was elected on the platform of the PDP in 2023, said his administration’s achievements over the past 28 months, including massive infrastructural expansion, improved security, and social development projects were evidence of the people’s trust.

He listed the transformation his government has achieved so far: over 1,000 kilometres of roads constructed, a 600% rise in internally generated revenue, a dramatic drop in crime rate, and improved healthcare facilities across all 260 wards.

“It looks like Smart Green Schools nearing completion, water flowing again through new mains, CNG buses in world-class terminals, and the revival of moribund assets like Hotel Presidential and Nigergas,” he said. “It looks like Enugu on the national - indeed, global - map.”

Mbah praised President Tinubu for what he described as visionary leadership and a “vested commitment to Enugu,” adding that his decision to join the APC aligns the state’s development agenda with federal reforms.

“I have found in His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not just a leader of our nation, but a partner in purpose,” Mbah said. “We both share a conviction that transformation must be bold and disruptive - that Enugu’s promise, its security, its schools, its hospitals, and its communities must be reinforced.”

He emphasized that the move was not driven by personal ambition or resentment but by the need for “fair partnership and respect for the South East.”

“For decades, Enugu and the South East stood firmly behind the PDP, yet our voices were often disregarded when it mattered most,” he stated. “It has become necessary to seek affiliation where our interests as a region are represented in the form of fair partnership.”

Mbah assured Ndi Enugu that the defection would not derail ongoing projects, promising to complete all ongoing works and maintain the state’s momentum of progress.

“This is not a detour but a conscious step towards a more compelling future,” he said. “Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level.”

The governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to the people of Enugu and expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for his encouragement.

“Tomorrow is here,” Mbah ended, echoing his campaign mantra, to loud cheers from the audience.

With Mbah’s defection, Enugu joins the list of South East states now under the influence of the ruling APC — a development analysts say could significantly reshape the region’s political dynamics ahead of 2027.