Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has described the planned defection of Governor Peter Mbah from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC as a defining political moment for the Southeast, saying it will “change the Igbo story” in Nigeria.
Speaking on Saturday at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, where he was received by jubilant party supporters, Nwoye said the entire political structure of Enugu State would officially join the APC on Tuesday, October 14, in what he termed a “historic alignment between transformation and renewed hope.”
Nwoye, who wore a cap inscribed “PNM” (Peter Ndubisi Mbah), said Mbah’s move to the APC would mark the end of Enugu’s decade-long stay in the opposition and usher in a new phase of political inclusion and national relevance for the Southeast.
“For the past 10 years, Enugu State has remained in opposition. But all that ends on Tuesday when Governor Peter Mbah declares for the APC. And he is not coming alone,” he said.
According to him, the defection will involve the governor, his appointees, 260 councillors, 24 state lawmakers, members of the National Assembly, and the entire State Executive Council.
“Where Enugu goes, the Southeast goes. This marks the beginning of the Southeast’s political reawakening and full integration into national politics,” he added.
Nwoye, who was sworn in as caretaker chairman at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, commended Mbah’s performance over the past two years, describing him as a symbol of innovation and transformational leadership.
“Before now, the Southeast had been left out of the main protocols of governance. But with Mbah’s entry into the APC, the Igbo story will change for the better. Peter Mbah is not joining the APC for himself but for his people,” he said.
Highlighting the governor’s achievements, Nwoye noted that Enugu State had become a model of innovation and efficiency.
“We are no longer talking about just paving roads. We are talking about disruptive innovation—from coding initiatives to modern governance systems—all within two years. If he could achieve that as an opposition governor, imagine what he could do as a progressive,” he stated.
He assured that under the new political alignment, federal appointments for Enugu people would now originate from within the state rather than through external influences.
“When we say Enugu needs to be connected to the centre, this is what it truly means,” he declared.
Nwoye expressed confidence that the synergy between Mbah’s Transformation Agenda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s
Renewed Hope Vision would fast-track development and economic growth across the Southeast.
“Enugu is now connected,” he concluded.
