Governor Peter Mbah’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has triggered intense political debate across Enugu State and beyond. For a governor who, by all accounts, has been visibly working to transform the state through infrastructure, digital governance, and investment-driven policies, many are asking: Why the sudden move? If Mbah’s performance speaks for him, why is he seeking the cover of the ruling party in Abuja?
The answer may lie somewhere between political survival and strategic foresight or perhaps a mix of both.
Governor Mbah’s defection is best understood within the context of Nigeria’s political reality, where elections are not just about performance but about structure, power, and protection. As 2027 approaches, the political terrain is shifting rapidly. The PDP, once Enugu’s dominant force, is bleeding internally and losing ground nationally. The APC, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is steadily building influence across the Southeast recruiting governors, ex-ministers, and power brokers into its fold.
Mbah, a keen political strategist, likely sees the writing on the wall. By aligning early with the federal ruling party, he hopes to shield his administration from federal hostility, secure access to federal resources, and strengthen his chances for a second term. In essence, it’s not about immediate survival but future insurance.
But the key question remains: Can joining APC truly save him in 2027?
Defection is not new in Nigerian politics. It is a time-tested game of survival where politicians switch parties to stay relevant. However, not every defection yields dividends. For Mbah, this move could either consolidate his grip on Enugu politics or expose him to new risks.
The APC’s internal politics is far more complex than the PDP’s. As a newcomer, Mbah enters a crowded field of old APC loyalists and federal power brokers who may not easily surrender control to an outsider no matter how influential he is at the state level. While his entry may bring prestige to the party, it could also ignite fresh rivalries within the Enugu APC structure.
Moreover, Enugu remains largely a PDP-leaning state, with its political culture and grassroots still tied to that party’s legacy. By dumping the PDP, Mbah risks alienating part of his base the same structure that helped him win in 2023. Whether the APC can fill that vacuum remains uncertain.
It’s undeniable that Mbah’s defection offers him certain short-term advantages. With APC in power at the centre, access to federal projects, intervention funds, and development support could flow more easily into Enugu. That’s politically smart and administratively beneficial.
However, this same advantage could become a double-edged sword. Many Nigerians are growing increasingly wary of leaders who prioritize political alignment over governance independence. The public may begin to question whether Mbah’s loyalty lies with the people of Enugu or with the power brokers in Abuja.
If indeed Peter Mbah is working as many acknowledge then his best political shield should be performance, not party defection. Good governance has a way of transcending party lines, especially in a politically mature environment. But Nigeria’s democracy is not yet there, and politicians know it. That’s why they play safe by aligning with the centre even when they have the people’s mandate.
Mbah’s decision, therefore, reflects both the weakness of Nigeria’s political institutions and the insecurity that comes with operating outside the federal umbrella. It shows that even performing governors still fear the unpredictable nature of Nigerian politics.
Governor Peter Mbah’s move to the APC is a political masterstroke on paper but it’s also a high-stakes gamble. It could either secure his political future or expose him to greater battles within a party known for internal power struggles.
If he truly believes in his work, he must now prove that his defection is not just about survival or federal favour, but about securing more opportunities for Enugu’s growth.
Ultimately, it will not be party membership that saves Peter Mbah in 2027 it will be the verdict of Ndi Enugu.
By: Godwin Offor
