From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, had finally dumped People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and embraced the All Progressives Congress(APC), as the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shetimma and the National Chairman of APC, joined by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and many other top notchers of APC stormed Michael Okpara square yesterday, Tuesday, October 14th and welcomed Governor Mbah, his EXCO and the 17 serving Council chaimen in Enugu state into APC.
The APC is likely the party to beat in Enugu state in the 2027 general elections based on the fact that Governori Mbah’s strength will add weight to APC against PDP, which he jettisoned.
The PDP has been the dorminant and ruling party in Enugu state,since the inception of the 4th democratic dispensation in 1999.
The implication is that Governor Mbah who won his first term election in 2023 under the plartform of PDP, will be seeking his constitutional granted second term in office,on the platform of APC.
All the members of executive council and political appointees, including the 17 elected council chairmen mobilised support from the rural areas to demonstrate their support for Governor Mbah’s entrance to APC.
Governor Mbah said his joining APC is a collective decision.
His words, “The movement is a collective decision of the political family’ in Enugu state. Enugu state cannot continue to be on the sideline of national politics.We are moving away from fragmented politics in the South East zone.We shall form a strong alliance and connection between South East zone and Abuja. It is a warm reception into the Progressives and migrating into a strong plartform.
“Today is the day we took that decision,not just for Enugu state but for the whole of South East zone”.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Setima,who stood in for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu said the coming of Governor Mbah into APC will yield better results not only for Enugu but the whole of South East zone.
His words,”Today is a great day for Ndigbo. Igbos are the Nigerian Jews. Ndigbo are the most vibrant ethnic group in Africa. I believe Ndigbo has come to the mainstream of Nation’s Politics. I assure President Tinubu has the capacity to listen.Peter Mbah is already one of us”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon.Tajudeen I as, in his speech made a startling revelation. He said that it is eleven years after establishing APC that Enugu state joined the fold. He commended Governor Mbah for the initiative.
His words,”History is made in Enugu state today. This is eleven years of establishing APC in Nigeria and it is the time Enugu state is joining the progressive states.It signifies that APC is going to take over the South East zone because Enugu state is the heartbeat of the South East, Nigeria.
” We want to assure that you have come to the right place.APC family’ under President Tinubu will give you more fulfilment,more development and more peace.We are on the same level even as you joined today”.
The Senate President,Senator Godswill Akpabio, described Governor Peter Mbah as a performing Governor,stating he will perform more noi that he has joined the Progressives.
The Imo state Governor,Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Adams Oshiomole and several other APC stakeholders who were in the entourage of the APC National Chairman and the Vice President, Kashim Setima to witness Governor Mbah’s defection to APC, corroborated the fact that it will yield better results for the state to belong to the mainstream party,APC, in control of the National polity.
The highlight of the event was the handing over of APC flag and broom which is a symbol of the party to Governor Mbah,by APC National Chairman.
Ex-Civilan Governor of Enugu state, Barrister Sullivan Chime,in his vote of thanks commended Governor Mbah for joining the APC fold and jokingly stressed that he saw the ‘Tomorrow’ and joined APC before Governor Mbah and his ‘Tomorrow’ is here mantra’.
The defection rally of Governor Mbah from PDP into APC brought together most political starlwarts in Enugu together,once more together.
A former Senate President,Chief Ken Nnamani, who is a strong member of APC was there.
The immediate past Governor of Enugu state,Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,elected on the platform of PDP was also there. Chief Okwesili Eze Nwodo, a former Civilian Governor of the state who also was a former National Chairman of PDP also attached.
Chief Nweke Gbazueagu,GNG, Chief Osita Okechukwu, Hon.Toby Okechukwu and several other political giants who held sway in times past in the state politics also attended.
Hon Engr Anayo Onwuegbu,FNSE, representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constiuency, using his support groups flirted his good will messages in support of Governor Mbah’s defection to APC within and outside the environments of Okpara square.
Hon.Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constiuency in the National Assembly, welcomed Governor Mbah into the APC fold.
Hon.Barr.Umeha is seemingly the forerunner of the APC avalanche of Enugu state National Legislators defection into the APC. He defected from Labour Party (LP) into APC at a reception in his honour at Akama Oghe, Ezeagu local government area,earlier in the year, stating APC is the plartform through which he can attract more democratic dividends to his federal Constiuency and alligning Enugu state to the mainstream politics.
His colleagues saw reason to follow suit sequently with the climax of Governor Mbah, the entire state EXCO and the 17 local government chaimen in Enugu state, coming on board APC political band wagon, yesterday.
However, the rally which ended peacefully at Okpara square is still without skirmishes. The newly constituted Enugu APC Caretaker Committee, led by Chief Ben Nwoye and Barr.Eugene Odoh, seemingly were not in control of the event. Likewise, the dissolved imnediate past state executive of the party in the state led by Barr.Ugoh Agballah,stayed away from the event totally.
It was gathered that Barr.Ugoh Agballah led EXCO has gone to court to challenge the dissolve of his EXCO by the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC during it’s national meeting held a fortnight ago Barr.Agballah asserts that the process violates the party’s constitution.
