Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Entire Cabinet Join APC in Major Political Earthquake, Ending PDP’s 25-Year Grip on State Politics
Rewritten Story: WRITTEN BY MYRA OCTOBER 14,2025
In what has been described as one of the most dramatic political shifts in Enugu State’s history, Governor Peter Mbah and his entire cabinet have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The large-scale defection, confirmed on Monday, precedes Mbah’s formal declaration slated for Tuesday in Enugu. The move marks the end of PDP’s 25-year dominance in the state, signaling a new era in the South-East’s political landscape.
Governor Mbah’s Senior Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the switch in a video posted on his social media pages. The footage showed several commissioners, advisers, and aides publicly pledging allegiance to the APC.
In the clip, the cabinet members were seen chanting pro-APC slogans such as, “We are now in APC! Tomorrow is here! APC all the way! Jagaban all the way—from top to bottom!”
Nwomeh captioned the post: “Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah.”
Adding to the exodus, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, a former PDP National Youth Leader and contender for National Secretary, also resigned from the PDP, citing loss of ideological focus.
In a resignation letter dated October 13, Udeh-Okoye said the PDP had “lost its moral compass and ideological direction.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunities the party had provided but insisted his exit was a matter of conscience.
“The PDP I once knew stood for democracy, accountability, and service to the people,” Udeh-Okoye wrote. “Sadly, that vision no longer exists. I’m compelled to join a progressive movement that reflects those values.”
Udeh-Okoye’s departure did not come as a surprise, given his previous clashes with party leaders, especially during his contest against Senator Samuel Anyanwu for the position of National Secretary. That internal feud had deepened divisions within the PDP, weakening its base across the South-East.
The defection of Governor Mbah and his team has sent shockwaves across the political scene in Enugu, where the PDP has held uninterrupted power since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. Political observers say this development could reshape regional alliances and alter the state’s political equation ahead of future elections.
“This is not just an individual defection; it’s a systemic shift,” said a political analyst in Enugu. “When an entire cabinet moves, it signals a total realignment of power structures. The PDP’s stronghold in Enugu may finally be crumbling.”
The timing of Mbah’s move appears strategic. It comes as the APC intensifies efforts to strengthen its influence in the South-East, a region where it has long struggled to establish a political foothold. Analysts say Mbah’s entry could provide the ruling party with a crucial boost ahead of 2027.
For the PDP, however, this represents another major setback in the South-East. Once the region’s dominant force, the party has faced a steady decline in influence due to internal wrangling, leadership crises, and defections.
Party insiders admit the warning signs had been visible for months. One PDP member, speaking anonymously, said, “The governor’s body language gave it away. The leadership ignored it, and now it’s too late.”
Another party loyalist blamed the PDP’s national leadership for neglecting grassroots concerns: “People no longer feel connected to the leadership. They’re leaving for where their political survival seems guaranteed.”
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for an elaborate defection ceremony in Enugu on Tuesday. Top APC figures from across the country are expected to attend the event, which insiders describe as a “symbolic takeover of Enugu.”
An APC chieftain in the state hailed the move as “a new dawn for Enugu politics.”
“Governor Mbah’s decision to join the APC is proof of President Bola Tinubu’s growing political influence in the South-East,” he said. “This is the beginning of greater things to come.”
With this development, Enugu’s political landscape has entered a transformative phase. Whether the APC can consolidate its new gains—or internal rivalries will derail the momentum—remains to be seen.
For now, one thing is clear: the PDP’s once unshakable dominance in Enugu has finally met its biggest challenge in decades.
