Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah is on the verge of a major political shift, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) finalises plans to welcome him into its fold, signalling what could be a historic defection in the South-East.
Inside sources at the APC National Secretariat confirmed that the National Working Committee (NWC) has begun moves to dissolve the Enugu APC Executive Committee led by Ugochukwu Agballah, a clear indication of preparations for Mbah’s entry.
According to insiders, the announcement of the new caretaker committee, whose names are awaiting presidential clearance, is expected by Thursday, October 9.
Top APC governors are reportedly preparing to storm Enugu for Mbah’s official declaration. Among them is Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), who is said to be coordinating the harmonisation of the party structure.
However, party insiders say Uzodimma has been cautious about Mbah’s entry, allegedly to maintain control of the Enugu APC structure.
Both Agballah and embattled Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, are known loyalists of the Imo governor.
Nnaji recently accused Mbah of being behind the controversy over his allegedly forged degree certificate, a claim Mbah’s allies dismissed.
PDP stakeholders, meanwhile, have accused Nnaji of fuelling fresh questions about Mbah’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
Both men, from Enugu East Senatorial District, contested the 2023 governorship election, where Mbah won and Nnaji came third.
The governor’s impending defection may bury any hopes of a rematch in 2027, unless Nnaji crosses over to the PDP.
In a separate development, Mbah’s government has continued its agricultural reforms, insuring over 9,000 farmers against risk and losses to boost production confidence.
Coordinator of the Harvesting Hope Caravan (HHC), Safiya Umar, hailed the initiative as “a national grassroots platform for dialogue, engagement, and mobilisation that bridges the gap between government policy and the people.”
She explained that “the HHC fosters dialogue, builds partnerships, and unifies efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems. It promotes inclusivity by giving women, youth and smallholder farmers a meaningful voice in shaping interventions that affect their lives.”
Umar added that the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA), advancing sustainable agricultural transformation and people-centred solutions.
Head of Pula Advisors in Enugu, Ugwu Ndubuisi, commended Mbah’s administration for its “visionary leadership” and praised the state’s participation in the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM).
Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai described food security as “the cornerstone of economic stability,” noting that the state has established an Agricultural Farmland Bank of over 130,000 hectares to attract investors and create jobs.
