Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state have threatened to march to the presidency in Abuja if alleged moves to stop Governor Peter Mbah from defecting to the party continue.
The stakeholders, drawn from the six local government areas of Enugu East senatorial district, made the threat during their weekend meeting in Enugu.
They accused Uche Nnaji, minister of innovation, science and technology, of attempting to frustrate Mbah’s anticipated entry into the APC.
At the meeting were Ben Nwoye, former APC state chairman; Christian Ugwu, a retired major general and former Nigerian ambassador to Ukraine; Hilary Edoga, former vice chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; Gab Nnamani, former governorship candidate; Anike Nwoga; Hyacinth Ngwu; and Juliet Egbo.
Nwoye said Mbah’s achievements in roads, schools, hospitals and security had endeared him to residents of the state and even earned praise from President Bola Tinubu.
His words: “Our plan is to reverse APC’s abysmal performance in Enugu.
“The rumours are everywhere that Mbah should move to APC because he has performed. Those putting a wedge to stop him don’t want APC to win in Enugu, but we won’t allow that.”
Nwoga warned that if the minister and others continued to “spread hate” and block Mbah, the stakeholders would demand Nnaji’s removal from office.
“APC hasn’t won any major seat in Enugu before. If Peter comes over, the party will begin to win. Some of them want APC to lose in 2027 so they can sit tight in their Abuja appointments,” he said.
Edoga said the APC in Enugu would be “marginalising itself” if it rejected Mbah, urging party leaders to emulate states like Akwa Ibom and Delta where governors were allowed to lead.
Ugwu pledged his support for Mbah’s defection, insisting that competence, not personal ambition, should guide the APC’s interest in the state.
“We have a more competent man in Mbah. That’s why I’m joining those calling him to come to APC. We’ve already prepared grounds for him,” he said.
Egbo added that Mbah’s entry into the APC would give Enugu greater federal attention like Imo and Ebonyi states.
The meeting ended with a unanimous call on the APC national leadership to support Mbah’s entry into the party, warning that any attempt to frustrate the move could trigger protests by stakeholders from Enugu East.
