By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The defection of the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, has further highlighted the internal upheaval in the opposition party.
Mbah, while announcing his defection at a press conference in Enugu, said the move was aimed at advancing the state’s interests, stating that joining the APC would provide greater opportunities for collaboration and growth.
He said, “Today, after a long period of reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC. We share a vision that transformation must be disruptive.
“I have found in His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a partner in purpose, a man with the courage to look beyond today and make the tough choices that secure lasting prosperity for tomorrow.”
Mbah’s defection adds to the list of members of the PDP who have joined the APC and is the third governor to defect to the APC from the PDP so far in 2025.
Before Mbah, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, formally left the PDP and joined the APC on June 6, 2025.
Eno said the decision was taken after months of consultations, stating that he intends to position the state for stability and development.
He added that his decision to join the APC was borne out of his admiration for President Bola Tinubu and the need for Akwa Ibom State to align with the Federal Government to reap continuous benefits.
The governor further assured the people of Akwa Ibom State that he would continue to work tirelessly for their benefit, regardless of party affiliation.
He said, “After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC.
“We’re joining the APC today in the state interest and because of our critical admiration and respect for President Tinubu, and to provide the needed support for Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
“We are not joining the APC from the position of weakness but from the position of strength and aliveness. We are joining the APC out of a need to align our state with the centre.”
As was with Mbah’s cabinet, Eno’s defection led to political realignments at the state level, with members of his cabinet also joining the APC.
The first PDP governor to join the gale of defections to the APC in 2025 was Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
In April 2025, Oborevwori, the immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and all members of the PDP in Delta defected to the APC.
The announcement was made in Asaba, the Delta State capital, by Senator James Manager, who described the PDP as being “in a sinking boat,” shortly after a meeting that lasted over six hours at Government House, Asaba.
“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” Manager said.
In an official confirmation of the defections, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, said the move was to further bring development to the state.
“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state, to build the court of law that has existed in our state, to further advance the cause of security and the welfare of our people, and, to a large extent, ensure that development in Delta is not truncated.
“In taking that decision, we concluded that leaving the PDP was very necessary for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of. We believe that what is happening, and the state of the PDP is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed — and there was a need for us to change the drinking party,” Aniagwu stated.
The defections by governors of the PDP have showcased and deepened the crisis within the party, which has been battling internal leadership disputes before and after the 2023 elections.
Recall that the party postponed its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was scheduled for October 15, over “recent developments.”
Despite the internal wrangling, PDP leaders and the remaining governors have vowed that the defection will not affect the success of the party in the 2027 general election.
