Enugu PDP Leaders Vow to Rebuild Party After Governor’s Defection

The recent defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has provoked mixed reactions within his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In response, a group of PDP stakeholders operating under the banner of Concerned Enugu State PDP Stakeholders has reaffirmed its commitment to remain in the party and to rebuild it ahead of the 2027 elections.

This development follows 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. In its place, the NWC appointed a seven‑member caretaker committee headed by Dr Ben Nwoye to oversee the state’s APC affairs.

Governor Mbah’s defection to the APC, together with 23 of the 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 the move as motivated by personal interest rather than the welfare of the people. Dr Okey Ozoani, former PDP State Youth Leader, and Engr Nick Ozonsi, former executive chairman of Udi Local Government Area, have both expressed their resolve to stay in the PDP and rebuild it. Ozoani questioned whether Mbah’s defection would actually reduce taxation or improve security in Enugu State, noting that Mbah was not a pioneer member of the PDP—he joined in 2003 and only became actively involved during his 2023 gubernatorial campaign.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved members of the dissolved SEC argue that the NWC’s action contravenes the APC constitution, which places disciplinary jurisdiction with the Zonal Executive Committee. They have pledged 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 Enugu State’s political landscape continues to evolve, the PDP stakeholders’ determination to rebuild their party and the dissolved SEC’s resolve to seek legal redress are likely to shape the state’s political future. Engr Ozonsi also emphasized the need for reform in Nigeria’s political system to address issues surrounding defections and party loyalty.