- Lawmakers cited prolonged PDP crises and unresolved leadership disputes as reasons for their defection.
- The new APC members represent constituencies across Enugu.
- Governor Mbah described the switch as a collective decision to prioritize development.
- Enugu’s APC now includes eight National Assembly members, with the move aligning state politics.
Five members of the House of Representatives from Enugu State have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), barely two weeks after Governor Peter Mbah made the same move.
The defection was announced during a House plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and witnessed by APC National Chairman Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda and Governor Mbah.
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The lawmakers who joined the APC are Hon. Chidi Mark Obetta (Nsukka/Igboeze South), Hon. Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu (Aninri/Awgu/Oji River), Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu), Hon. Oke Martins (Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani), and Hon. Nnolim John Nnaji (Nkanu East/Nkanu West).
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In letters read on the House floor, each lawmaker pointed to persistent internal conflicts, leadership struggles, and factionalism within the PDP as key reasons for leaving. They explained that consultations with their constituents highlighted the need to join a party capable of delivering effective representation and tangible development to their areas.
Obetta, who was Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, said the PDP’s leadership crisis had weakened the party’s cohesion and effectiveness. Speaker Abbas congratulated the defectors, while Dr. Yilwatda and Governor Mbah formally welcomed them into the APC, describing it as the most progressive political family in Africa.
Hon. Daniel Asama of Plateau State also switched from the Labour Party to the APC, citing similar internal disputes. Earlier defections by Hon. Paul Nnamchi, Hon. Sunday Umeha, and Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu brought the total number of Enugu lawmakers in the APC to eight.
Governor Mbah emphasized that the move was not driven by personal ambition but by a shared vision for Enugu’s growth. “After careful deliberation, we concluded that aligning with a platform that prioritizes transparency, trust, and development is the best path forward,” he said.
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Mbah highlighted that Enugu’s long-standing loyalty to the PDP had yielded minimal benefits and that the APC offered a federal platform aligned with the state’s development goals, including infrastructure, industry, and regional connectivity.
“President Tinubu’s policies demonstrate the commitment to national progress, and our move ensures Enugu’s inclusion in these reforms,” Mbah added. He noted that the switch represents a principled decision focused on fairness, civic responsibility, and regional advancement rather than personal political gain.
