In a move aimed at consolidating political alignment in Nigeria’s Enugu State, federal lawmaker Chidi Mark Obetta has asserted that his recent defection to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—alongside colleagues—will bolster Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration. The remarks came during a weekend gathering of political leaders in the Nsukka socio-cultural zone, a region encompassing six local governments in Enugu North Senatorial District.
Obetta, who represents Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South in the National Assembly, emphasized that the decision to switch from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP was driven by shared goals for regional development rather than coercion. “It was the governor’s vision and tangible achievements that convinced us,” he stated at the event, held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Notably, he highlighted the recent appointment of an indigenous academic as UNN’s Vice-Chancellor—a first in the institution’s 65-year history—as evidence of progress under Mbah’s leadership.
The lawmaker reaffirmed that the defection, which included Udenu/Igbo-Eze North representative Dennis Agbo and other supporters, stemmed from a desire to unify efforts toward infrastructure, education, and economic initiatives. “Our zone stands to gain more by collaborating under a common political mandate,” Obetta explained, stressing the importance of grassroots engagement across Nsukka, Igbo-Eze South, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Etiti, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani local governments.
He dismissed speculation about external pressure, noting that grassroots leaders from the region had openly endorsed the governor’s policies during the interactive forum. Mbah’s administration, inaugurated in 2023, has prioritized education reform and rural development, themes reflected in Obetta’s remarks. The defections signal a strategic consolidation for the PDP in a state historically shaped by shifting political alliances, particularly in the aftermath of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
As Enugu navigates post-election cohesion, the emphasis on localized collaboration underscores broader efforts to align governance with community-driven priorities—a dynamic increasingly central to political stability in Nigeria’s southeast.
