PDP chieftain, Bode George and Enugu Governor Peter Mbah
Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elder statesman and Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Bode George, has expressed deep surprise over the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling the move unexpected and puzzling.
Speaking during a live appearance on Politics Today aired Tuesday on Channels Television, George revealed that he had no inkling of Mbah’s plan to abandon the PDP—despite numerous reconciliatory efforts within the party.
“I never saw it at any time,” George said. “In fact, when Anyanwu was brought back as secretary to complete his assignment, he asked his people not to attend meetings. We were wondering what was going on in the South-East.”
According to George, party leaders had gone out of their way to assure Mbah that the South-East would have a significant stake in the PDP moving forward, especially with the national convention just around the corner.
“Now that we have settled the matter and fixed the convention date, it’s only a question of time. Whatever position the East wanted to give him would have been his. So, what’s the essence of leaving now?” he asked.
Governor Mbah officially joined the APC during a well-publicized event in Enugu on October 14, 2025, in the presence of top party figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
Reacting further, George recounted how senior PDP figures made personal efforts to dissuade the governor from leaving.
“We all waded in and convinced him. Many people went there, telling him, ‘Calm down, the convention is next month. You’ll get whatever is due to the South-East.’ But the rationale and emphasis he gave, it was like I was in a very long dream,” he said.
While wishing Mbah success in his new political home, George asserted that the PDP remained unfazed by defections.
“I wish him the best of luck. This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is an iroko tree. I wish them the best,” he added confidently.
Mbah’s switch to the APC marks a major political shift in the region, giving the ruling party control of four out of five South-East states—Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—leaving Anambra as the lone stronghold of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
‘Governors Are Not the Party’
Responding to broader concerns over the spate of defections, George emphasized that the PDP draws its real strength from its grassroots base, not just elected governors.
“Governors alone don’t make the party; they’re an added value. The people make up the party,” he explained.
“We’ll campaign, go to the field, and explain to Nigerians what the APC has done—or failed to do—to put smiles on their faces. It’s not just about being in government. We’ll ensure that the will of Nigerians prevails.”
Asked if he could ever consider leaving the PDP, George was unequivocal: “That is absolutely impossible.”
Despite recent political turbulence, he remains optimistic about the party’s future, declaring the PDP to be “absolutely redeemable.”
Channels TV
