Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has described Governor Peter Mbah’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a clear signal of the PDP’s decline in the South-East. Speaking on Sunday in Enugu while reacting to recent political developments in the state, Okechukwu said Mbah’s move marks a defining moment and underscores the end of the PDP’s influence in the region.
“Governor Mbah’s defection is a pragmatic, rational, and inevitable decision that symbolizes the total collapse of PDP’s dominance in the South-East. From controlling all five states in the zone in 1999, the party now has none in 2025.”
He further criticized the PDP for its disregard for equity and justice, particularly during the 2023 elections when it breached the long-standing zoning arrangement of the Fourth Republic. According to him, the marginalization of the South-East during the controversy over the National Secretary position was the final straw.
“The PDP’s repeated acts of betrayal, neglect, and injustice toward the South-East justified Governor Mbah’s long-anticipated decision. His exit is not an isolated incident but the final chapter of the region’s disillusionment with a party that failed to reward loyalty and fairness.”
Meanwhile, the APC has announced plans to formally receive Governor Mbah and thousands of political officeholders and aides defecting from the PDP. The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, reportedly disclosed the development on Friday.
