Mbah’s defection leaves PDP groping for answers
…Party now have nine governors from 13
…PDP senators shrink to 27 as APC secures two-thirds majority
The defection of Peter Mbah, Enugu State Governor, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has left his former party in disarray.
It has however strengthened his new party, positioning them for a good run in the 2027 elections.
Currently, PDP has nine governors, with the number of its senators has shrunken to 27.
On the other hand, the APC secured two-thirds majority in the Senate yesterday, leaving them in total control of the legislative house.
Read also: APC welcomes Mbah, stakeholders to party
Mbah’s defection
Mbah announced his decision on Tuesday during a press conference in Enugu, saying the move was aimed at advancing the state’s interests through a stronger partnership with the ruling party at the centre.
He said his defection followed a long period of reflection, noting that the APC’s vision under President Bola Tinubu aligns with his own goal of driving sustainable development in Enugu and across the South-East.
“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,” Mbah stated.
“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.”
The governor, who was accompanied by his predecessor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, federal and state lawmakers, and top political figures in Enugu, said the decision was a collective one made by his political family.
According to him, “This is no whimsical decision. It is a collective move by the political family in Enugu State, comprising members of the National Assembly, members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, all local government chairmen, councillors, political appointees, and over 80 percent of party executives.”
Mbah also expressed optimism that the defection would ensure that the voice of Enugu people and indeed that of the South-East would now be heard in Abuja.
While thanking the PDP for its past support, Mbah lamented that the South-East had often been sidelined in national politics despite its loyalty to the party.
According to Mbah, “The Peoples Democratic Party which provided us the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude,” he said. “But despite our loyalty, our voices were too often disregarded.”
“Let me be clear, I will represent our state and our region with the same strength of purpose as I have always done. Our Igbo DNA does not change; our destiny does not change. What changes is that our vision now finds stronger reinforcement at the federal level.
“To the political elite across the South East, I say this: our people are watching. What they care about most are results. True leadership is about service to the people, not service to self. Principles, not personalities, must guide us.”
PDP senators shrink to 27
Meanwhile, the number of senators on the platform of the PDP dropped from 28 to 27 on Tuesday following the defection of Senator Kaila Dahuwa Samaila (Bauchi North) to the ruling APC.
His defection enabled the ruling APC to secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate, after it attained a total of 73 lawmakers.
Kaila, in a letter addressed to Godswill Akpabio, president of the Senate, and read during plenary, cited the prolonged internal crises within the PDP as the major reason for his defection.
He said the recurring factionalisation and lack of direction in the opposition party had ‘gravely constrained’ his ability to serve his constituents effectively and in good conscience.
Read also: Charting a new course: Transition from PDP to APC
“The PDP has gravely constrained my ability to discharge my constitutional responsibilities effectively and in good conscience,” he wrote.
“As one deeply committed to the service of our nation and the welfare of my people, I have found it necessary to realign my political engagements with a more progressive platform that embodies good governance, unity, progress, growth, and discipline in the governance of our country.”
The lawmaker explained that his decision to join the APC was also inspired by President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms, which he described as bold, transformative, and necessary for Nigeria’s recovery.
“Consequently, I have chosen to join the All Progressives Congress and to lend my full commitment to the reforms of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu,” Kaila stated.
According to him, Tinubu’s leadership represents the kind of ‘decisive direction’ Nigeria needs to move forward.
With Kaila’s defection, the APC now commands 73 seats in the 109-member Senate, securing a two-thirds majority.
The new configuration of the Senate stands as follows: APC – 73; PDP – 27; Labour Party – 4; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 2; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 1; and Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 2.
