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| Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah |
Governor Peter Mbah’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress is a clear signal of the party’s end in the South-East, says the former director-general of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu
He stated this on Sunday while reacting to political developments in Enugu.
”The move by Mbah is a defining political moment and a clear indication that the South-East zone has finally bid the PDP goodbye. Mbah’s defection is a pragmatic, rational, and inevitable decision, which symbolises the total collapse of PDP’s dominance in the South-East.
“This is PDP moving from controlling all five state governments in the zone in 1999 to having zero governors in 2025,” he said.
He noted the lamentation of the late Chuba Okadigbo, who once warned that the PDP “pays good deeds with bad coins”, adding that Mr Mbah’s exit vindicated that lamentation.
Mr Okechukwu criticised the PDP’s “utter disregard” for equity and justice, especially in 2023, when the party breached the Fourth Republic’s long-standing national zoning convention.
“The last straw that broke the PDP’s camel’s back was the deliberate marginalisation of the South-East during the controversy over the national secretary position,” said the politician.
He alleged that the PDP’s serial betrayal, neglect, and abuse of the South-East were sufficient grounds for Mbah’s long-anticipated defection.
“Governor Mbah’s exit is not an isolated event . It is the final chapter in the South-East’s disillusionment with a party that failed to reward faithfulness, fairness and friendship,” he alleged.
The APC had announced plans to welcome Mr Mbah, thousands of political officeholders and aides from the PDP to the APC.
The grand reception will be held on Tuesday in Okpara Square, Enugu.
The APC national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, was said to have broken the news of the governor’s impending defection on Friday.