Enugu Governor Peter Mbah Meets President Tinubu at State House After Defection to APC

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has solidified his political alignment with the Federal Government, meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja just days after his formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This high-profile visit to the nation’s seat of power confirms the governor’s strategic move to integrate Enugu with the center of national politics.

Dependable NG reports that the core focus of the discussion between Governor Mbah and President Tinubu was on strengthening collaboration between Enugu State and the Federal Government. The governor took to social media to state that the meeting was aimed at delivering “greater prosperity for our people,” underscoring his commitment to playing the state’s part in building a stronger and more united Nigeria.

The defection of Governor Mbah and his entire political structure, including the State Executive Council, State House of Assembly members, and local government officials, has been described as a “strategic move for visionary partnership” that will bring transformative change. The governor stated that he found in President Tinubu a “partner in purpose” whose Renewed Hope Agenda aligns with his vision to fast-track development and attract much-needed federal resources to the state. This move is intended to ensure that the voice of the South-East is heard more prominently at the national level, ending what Mbah described as “wallowing on the sidelines.”

While Vice President Kashim Shettima formally received Governor Mbah and his team during a grand reception in Enugu, the Abuja meeting with the President marks the next significant step in solidifying this new political alliance. The defection has been met with mixed reactions, with supporters hailing it as a courageous act of political alignment necessary for development, while opposition elements have criticised it as being driven by personal interest rather than the welfare of the people. Nonetheless, the move marks a significant political shift in Enugu, a state that had been a PDP stronghold since 1999.