The political landscape of Enugu State is set for a historic shake-up as Governor Peter Mbah, 24 members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, and over 260 councillors prepare to officially dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
According to multiple credible reports from Premium Times, Vanguard, The Nation, and Leadership Newspapers, final arrangements have been concluded for the grand defection ceremony to take place in Enugu, marking the collapse of PDP’s 25-year dominance in the state.
A Political Earthquake in Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah’s defection is coming barely 18 months after assuming office on the PDP platform. Sources close to both camps revealed that Mbah’s decision followed weeks of high-level consultations with the APC leadership, including moves by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to restructure its state chapter in readiness for his arrival.
The NWC last week dissolved the Enugu APC State Working Committee and inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee headed by Dr. Ben Nwoye to manage the defection process and realign the party’s structure across the 17 local government areas of the state.
The Defection Game Plan
Party insiders told Premium Times that the defection will not be symbolic — it is a complete merger of structures, involving the governor’s cabinet, all 24 PDP lawmakers in the state assembly, 260 elected councillors, and several federal legislators from Enugu.
The planned defection rally, already approved by the APC national leadership, is expected to be attended by top party figures from Abuja, including members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and prominent South-East leaders of the party.
A senior APC source described the move as “the final nail in PDP’s coffin in Enugu,” insisting that Mbah’s entrance will “change the political equation of the South East.”
PDP in Disarray
The defection has already caused internal cracks within the PDP in Enugu. Several ward and local government executives have reportedly resigned in anticipation of the switch, while others remain divided over how to respond.
According to Vanguard, some PDP leaders in the state accused the APC of “using intimidation, inducement, and political pressure” to force members out of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, observers believe PDP’s resistance may be too little, too late — especially if the governor’s entire structure crosses over intact.
What Mbah’s Move Means for the South East
If Tuesday’s defection holds, it will be one of the most significant political realignments in the South East since 1999. It signals APC’s growing influence in a region previously dominated by the PDP, with Enugu now likely to join Imo and Ebonyi as APC-controlled states.
As of press time, Governor Mbah has not issued an official statement confirming the defection, but top aides and political associates have remained silent amid mounting preparations for Tuesday’s event.
