Enugu State Politics: PDP Stakeholders Resolve to Rebuild Party After Governor’s Defection

The recent defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked mixed reactions among members of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A group of PDP stakeholders, under the aegis of Concerned Enugu State PDP Stakeholders, has reaffirmed its commitment to remaining in the party and rebuilding it ahead of the 2027 elections.

This development comes on the heels of the dissolution of the Enugu State Executive Committee (SEC) of the APC by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). The dissolved SEC, led by Barr Ugochukwu Agballah, has vowed to seek legal redress, claiming that the NWC’s action was unconstitutional. The NWC had appointed a seven-man caretaker committee, headed by Dr. Ben Nwoye, to oversee the state’s APC affairs.

Governor Mbah’s defection to the APC, along with 23 out of 24 State Assembly members, was reportedly driven by his dissatisfaction with the PDP’s treatment of the South East region. However, some PDP members have criticized Mbah’s decision, citing personal interest rather than the welfare of the people.

Dr. Okey Ozoani, former PDP State Youth Leader, and Engr. Nick Ozonsi, a former executive chairman of Udi Local Government Area, have expressed their resolve to remain in the PDP and rebuild it. Ozoani questioned the benefits of Mbah’s defection, asking whether it would reduce taxation or improve security in Enugu State. He also emphasized that Mbah was not a pioneer member of the PDP, having joined in 2003, and had not been actively involved with the party until his gubernatorial campaign in 2023.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved members of the dissolved SEC have alleged that the NWC’s action contravenes the APC’s constitution, which vests disciplinary jurisdiction in the Zonal Executive Committee. They have vowed to contest their dissolution through constitutional means, citing Articles 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, and specifically Article 21.3(VI)(D) of the APC Constitution.

As the political landscape in Enugu State continues to unfold, the PDP stakeholders’ resolve to rebuild the party and the dissolved SEC’s determination to seek legal redress are likely to have significant implications for the state’s political future. The developments also highlight the need for reform in Nigeria’s political system, as Engr. Ozonsi emphasized, to address the issues surrounding defections and party loyalty.