TIGRITUDE UNLEASHED: Governor Peter Mbah’s Defection to APC Reshapes Enugu’s Political Landscape, Reignites ‘Tomorrow is Here’ Vision – ALGON
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In what political observers have described as a “seismic realignment” in Nigeria’s Southeast politics, Enugu State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, on Monday, October 13, 2025, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a bold and defining moment in the state’s political history.
The defection, which took place amid fanfare and a massive show of support at the iconic Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, was attended by top APC leaders, serving and former governors, national officers of the party, and tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters from across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
The move, which had long been the subject of speculation, now confirms Governor Mbah’s determination to reposition Enugu for national integration, infrastructural acceleration, and broader political inclusion.
Quoting the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the statement released by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State Chapter, described the development as “Tigritude Unleashed,” invoking the imagery that a tiger does not proclaim its tigritude — it pounces.
The statement, signed by the State ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area, Hon. Sidney Okey Edeh, hailed the Governor’s move as an act of courage, vision, and destiny.
A Calculated and Courageous Shift
According to the statement, Governor Mbah’s decision to join the APC was not impulsive but a “measured and deliberate transition grounded in strategic patience and deep introspection.”
“Unlike hasty decisions that feed ego and risk miscalculation,” the statement noted, “Governor Mbah’s defection was guided by a desire to exhaust all options for healing the PDP’s longstanding neglect of the Southeast and to reform the party from within. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, the PDP continued to implode and refused to embrace change.”
The ALGON Chairman emphasized that the Governor’s move represents “not a betrayal, but an evolution for progress,” describing it as “a necessary realignment for the freedom of Ndi Enugu and the acceleration of good governance.”
Mass Solidarity Across 17 Local Governments
The event at Okpara Square saw a massive turnout from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, whose chairmen pledged unwavering allegiance to the Governor and his new political destination. 
“The 17 LGAs stand firmly behind His Excellency,” Hon. Edeh declared, “because his leadership has brought visible transformation and restored hope in governance. This defection is not just about party identity—it is about Enugu’s future and its rightful place in Nigeria’s national politics.”
He cited the Governor’s achievements across sectors—healthcare, transportation, agriculture, education, technology, aviation, and housing—as evidence of a leader “deeply invested in tangible results rather than empty political slogans.”
APC Leaders Welcome Mbah as Enugu’s New Political Arrowhead
The event attracted prominent APC national leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as well as political heavyweights such as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Adams Oshiomhole, and over ten serving and former governors.
Their collective message was unequivocal—Governor Peter Mbah is now the undisputed Leader of the APC in Enugu State.
“This is not just a defection,” one APC leader reportedly remarked, “it is the fusion of performance and progress. Governor Mbah represents the new face of development politics in the Southeast.”
‘Tomorrow is Here’ Takes a National Turn
Governor Mbah’s now-famous mantra, “Tomorrow is Here,” gained fresh national resonance during the rally. His speech, described by ALGON as “humble, visionary, and people-centered,” reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive growth, economic innovation, and infrastructural expansion.
“Each word resonated with empathy and conviction,” Hon. Edeh stated. “His Excellency spoke not as a man seeking political shelter, but as a visionary leader determined to unlock Enugu’s full potential.”
A New Political Dawn for Enugu State
The defection has triggered a political landslide in the state, with reports of mass resignations from the PDP and other parties. According to ALGON, the sweeping display of brooms at Okpara Square symbolized “a collective cleansing” and “a determination to sweep away the debris of the past 25 years of PDP dominance.”
Hon. Edeh stressed that ALGON, under his leadership, has pledged to work closely with APC leadership across all zones and wards ahead of the party’s forthcoming congresses.
“This is a time for unity, strategy, and mobilization,” he affirmed. “We will support His Excellency’s vision to sanitize Enugu’s political space and ensure governance continues to deliver for the people.”
He added that the recent dissolution of the APC Enugu State Working Committee by the National Working Committee and the installation of a seven-member Caretaker Committee was a sign that “the future is now, and it begins with us.”
ALGON’s Pledge and National Alignment
The Enugu ALGON Chairman concluded the statement with a resounding affirmation of loyalty to both the President and the Governor, noting that the association is fully committed to working with the APC at all levels to sustain Enugu’s development momentum.
“Long live His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement read. “Long live His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. Long live ALGON, Enugu State.”
As the political tide continues to shift, analysts believe that Governor Mbah’s defection could redefine political equations in the Southeast, consolidating APC’s influence and altering the traditional voting patterns of the region.
For many in Enugu, it is not merely a political move—it is, as one supporter at the rally put it, “the roaring of a tiger whose time has come.”
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