We won’t Accept Mbah into Our Fold, Enugu APC Warns Against Defection

Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it will not accept Governor Peter Mbah if he attempts to join the party.

This declaration was made by APC State Chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, during an expanded stakeholders meeting at the party’s secretariat in Enugu.

The meeting, which saw the defection of 150 prominent members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), marked a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

The new members, including notable figures such as Barr. Peter Okonkwo, Hon Nonso Ochi, and Chief Tony Chigbo, were welcomed by the APC, with assurances of equal treatment and party loyalty.

The APC’s rejection of Governor Mbah’s potential defection comes on the heels of a similar move by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who defected from the PDP to the APC earlier this week.

Oborevwori’s defection, along with his deputy and entire State Executive Council, marked a significant blow to the PDP’s dominance in the region.

According to Agballah, the APC will not accept Governor Mbah due to his administration’s alleged failure to prioritize security, particularly in the face of rising insecurity in Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo local government areas.

The party condemned the state government’s inaction and efforts to suppress news of the killings, stating that Governor Mbah’s administration has failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property.

“The Peter Mbah-led government has failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property of citizens of Enugu state,” the party said in a statement. “We will not accept Governor Peter Mbah into our party, as his administration’s record on security is unacceptable.”

The APC’s stance on Governor Mbah’s potential defection has sparked a heated debate in the state, with some analysts seeing it as a bold move to assert the party’s values and principles. Others, however, have criticized the decision, arguing that it may harm the party’s chances of winning the governorship election in 2027.

Meanwhile, the APC has expressed confidence in President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged to support his second term. The party leaders also endorsed the suspension of Senator Chukwuka Utazi for anti-party activities and mandated the State Executive Committee to ratify the suspension.

In a communique issued after the stakeholders’ meeting, the APC welcomed the new members and assured them of equal treatment and party loyalty. The party leaders noted with excitement that the party has witnessed significant growth with an influx of new members, and expressed confidence that the party will continue to grow from strength to strength.

The APC stakeholders urged Igbo people to continue to support the government of President Tinubu and his reform programmes, and encouraged the teeming party faithful in the state to keep faith with the party and not relent in holding their regular meetings at the wards and local government areas.

As the political landscape in Enugu State continues to shift, one thing is clear: the APC is poised to make significant gains in the upcoming elections, and Governor Mbah’s potential defection is just one of the many factors that will shape the outcome.