PDP chieftain Bode George says he was shocked by Governor Peter Mbah’s defection to the APC.
He said Mbah ignored reconciliation efforts and insisted the PDP remains strong and unshaken.
Veteran Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has expressed shock over the decision of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George said he had no prior knowledge of Mbah’s defection plans despite the ongoing reconciliation efforts within the PDP’s South-East caucus.
“I didn’t see it coming,” George said. “When Anyanwu returned as secretary to complete his assignment, Mbah instructed his team not to attend meetings. We were puzzled about what was happening in the South-East. Now that the issues have been resolved and the convention date fixed, it’s surprising that he chose to leave at this stage.”
He added that senior party figures had intervened to persuade Mbah to remain in the PDP. “We reached out to him, appealing for patience. Several people met him, saying, ‘Please hold on, the convention is next month, and your zone will get its due.’ But his reasoning was unexpected it felt unreal,” George said.
Despite the disappointment, the PDP leader wished the governor well and expressed confidence in the resilience of the party. “I wish him well. This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is like an iroko tree; it will endure,” he stated.
George dismissed suggestions that the exit of governors could weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections. “Governors add value, but they don’t define the party. The people make up the PDP. We’ll go to the field and show Nigerians what the APC has or hasn’t done. The will of the people will always prevail,” he asserted.
When asked if he could ever consider leaving the PDP, George replied firmly, “Never. That’s out of the question. The party may be facing challenges, but it remains fully redeemable.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Peter Mbah officially announced his defection to the APC during a statewide broadcast, saying the move was driven by the need to align with the federal government for the progress of Enugu State.
“After much reflection, I have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC,” Mbah declared. “Leadership sometimes requires tough decisions in pursuit of greater goals. Joining the APC will enable us to better serve our people and align with the national vision for development.”
Mbah commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for what he described as “significant support” to Enugu under the current government.
He was formally received into the APC by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other top party leaders, including Nentawe Yilwatda.
With Mbah’s defection, the APC now controls three of the five states in the South-East Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo while Abia remains under the Labour Party (LP) and Anambra under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
