NIGERIA: Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas Lead APC Leaders To Enugu As Governor Mbah Defects To APC

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, witnessed heightened political activity on Tuesday as Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas led top All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to formally welcome Governor Peter Mbah and his political appointees into the ruling party.

The development marks a major realignment in the political landscape of the South East, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had held sway for over two decades.

According to a statement issued in Enugu by Uche Anichukwu, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on External Relations, the defection event drew prominent APC leaders, including members of the National Working Committee led by the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, governors, ministers, and federal lawmakers.

Anichukwu noted that key segments of Enugu society, including the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had expressed support for Mbah’s decision to align with the APC, describing it as a move in the best interest of the state and region.

He quoted former Enugu APC chairman Augustine Nnamani as saying that the PDP’s internal crisis and neglect of the South East were responsible for the mass exodus from the party in the state.

According to Nnamani, the PDP “mistreated and betrayed the people of the South East” by failing to recognise Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary, contrary to the zoning tradition within the PDP.

“The PDP chose a few people in Abuja over and above the South East. Mbah has exited as spelt out in the region’s communique in May, which directed members to leave the party if its choice was not respected,” Nnamani stated.

Tuesday’s defection is expected to further boost the APC’s presence in the South East as the ruling party continues efforts to consolidate political influence ahead

of future elections.