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Full List: Sitting Nigerian Governors Who Left PDP For APC

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7 months ago

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The political atmosphere in Enugu State has taken a dramatic turn as several key members of Governor Peter Mbah’s cabinet have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), signalling what appears to be the governor’s imminent move to the ruling party. Those who have so far switched allegiance include the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh; Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr. Felix Nnamani; and Chairman of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board, Dr. Amaka Ngene. The development was confirmed on Monday through a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dan Nwomeh, which showed the officials holding APC flags while declaring loyalty to the party. “Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah – from left to right, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, the Prince of Mburumbu, Dr Lawrence Ezeh; Chairman of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board, Dr Amaka S. Ngene; and Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr Felix Nnamani,” Nwomeh captioned the video. The video quickly went viral, fuelling widespread speculation that Governor Mbah’s long-rumoured defection to the APC was imminent. According to reports, the APC leadership has finalised plans to receive Governor Mbah formally at a high-profile ceremony scheduled to hold in Enugu on Tuesday. Party officials and supporters have been spotted around the Government House and Michael Okpara Square, reportedly making arrangements for the event. Multiple sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the APC’s national leadership, including senior figures from the South-East, will be present at the ceremony, which is expected to draw a large political crowd. Mbah’s defection, when confirmed, will make Enugu the first South-East state under APC control since the 2023 general elections, marking a major political realignment in the region. The speculation reached fever pitch on Sunday night when an APC flag was hoisted at the Enugu Government House, a move many interpreted as a symbolic declaration of the governor’s new political allegiance. Sources close to the government said the governor had been in closed-door meetings with top APC figures over the past weeks, finalising the terms of his switch. Although Mbah has not made an official statement, several of his aides and associates have already rebranded their social media pages with APC logos and slogans. The defection wave represents yet another blow to the PDP, which has suffered a series of high-profile departures since the 2023 elections. The party, once dominant in the South-East, is now struggling to maintain its influence amid rising defections to the ruling APC. Political observers say Mbah’s anticipated move could reshape regional alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, with implications for both national and state politics. “This is a political earthquake in the South-East. If Mbah completes his move to APC, it will change the power dynamics in the region,” a senior political analyst in Enugu told The PUNCH. Mbah, who was elected governor under the PDP in March 2023, has so far maintained silence on his political future. However, insiders describe his alignment with the APC as “strategic”, possibly aimed at attracting more federal support for Enugu State. Political watchers say the governor’s defection could embolden other South-East politicians to follow suit, giving the APC a stronger foothold in a region that has historically resisted its influence. For now, all eyes are on Tuesday’s event, which is expected to confirm what has been weeks of speculation, that Governor Peter Mbah is officially crossing to the All Progressives Congress.

On Wednesday, the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, became the most recent sitting governor to officially leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This decision followed a private meeting held at the Government House in Asaba.

Over the past twelve years, several governors have made similar transitions from the PDP to the APC while still in office.

This publication reviews some of these governors who have switched parties during their tenure in recent years: Sheriff Oborevwori’s departure from the PDP to the APC surprised many, especially since his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also joined the ruling party.

This shift signifies a significant political change in Delta, a state that has been a stronghold of the PDP since 1999.

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Dave Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi State, transitioned to the APC from the PDP in November 2020 during his second term, citing the APC’s focus on infrastructure under then-President Muhammadu Buhari and the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast by the PDP as his motivations.
Bello Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara State, switched from the PDP to the APC in June 2021, driven by political instability in Zamfara and a desire to form strategic alliances for maintaining stability and control.
Ben Ayade, the former governor of Cross River State, also defected to the APC from the PDP in May 2021, citing his intention to align with the federal government under President Buhari as a key reason for his departure from the PDP, with the goal of securing more development projects for Cross River State.

Aminu Tambuwal, the ex-governor of Sokoto State, transitioned from the PDP to the APC prior to the 2015 elections, only to rejoin the PDP in 2018.

He has since been associated with a potential return to the APC while still serving in his position. Aliyu Wamakko, another former governor of Sokoto State, made a similar switch from the PDP to the APC in 2014 during his tenure, in anticipation of the 2015 general elections, which the APC ultimately won.

Abdulfatah Ahmed, the former governor of Kwara State, also departed from the PDP to join the APC in 2014, although he later returned to the PDP.

In related news, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling APC, announced that additional opposition governors are expected to join the party in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

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