Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing his admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms as the key reason for his move.
Speaking on Tuesday shortly after making his defection public, Governor Mbah said his respect for President Tinubu began on the very day of the president’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, when he announced the removal of fuel subsidy and unified the foreign exchange market.
“I fell in love with this president from the day he made the announcement to remove fuel subsidy and unified the foreign exchange market,” Mbah said.
The governor, who has a background in the oil and gas sector, said he had long believed that the fuel subsidy was unsustainable and that Tinubu’s decision to remove it showed bold leadership and political will.
“I’ve written in the past on why it became necessary for the subsidy to go. So when the President made that move, I saw it as a sign of genuine reform,” Mbah added.
He described his relationship with President Tinubu as “very good” and expressed confidence in the direction the APC-led federal government is taking the country, especially in areas of economic restructuring and fiscal discipline.
Mbah’s defection is expected to spark political reactions in Enugu and across the South-East, where the ruling APC has historically struggled to gain strong footing. His move may also influence future alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers say the defection is part of a broader wave of political realignments as several governors and political figures seek to align themselves with the center of power amid ongoing reforms by the Tinubu administration.
As of press time, the APC leadership had yet to issue an official statement on the defection, though party sources confirmed Mbah’s entry was welcomed at the national level.
