Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has expressed shock over the defection of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite what he described as “intense efforts” by party leaders to convince him to stay.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television Tuesday night, George said he did not foresee Mbah’s exit, noting that senior figures within the PDP had already resolved internal disputes in the South-East and offered assurances about the governor’s political future within the party.
“I never saw it coming,” George said. “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. Now that we’ve settled the matter and fixed the convention date, whatever position the East wanted to give him would have been his. So, what’s the essence of leaving now?”
The PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member revealed that multiple delegations had visited Mbah to dissuade him from defecting. “Many people went to see him, telling him to calm down. The convention is next month; he would get whatever was due to the South-East. But the reasons he gave for leaving felt like I was in a long dream,” George said.
Despite his disappointment, George wished Mbah well, describing the PDP as a “resilient political family” that has survived many defections. “This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is an iroko tree. We wish them the best,” he said.
Taking a jab at the ruling APC, George described it as “a private enterprise owned by one man.” “The APC is owned by one man. He publicly said it himself — that man is President Bola Tinubu,” he declared.
Governor Mbah had earlier in the day confirmed his defection in a state broadcast, thanking the PDP for its support but describing his move to the APC as a “bold choice in service of higher principles.”
“For nearly three decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu State walked side by side. Yet, leadership sometimes demands difficult, even painful decisions,” Mbah said.
Addressing fears of further defections from the PDP in the South-East, George insisted that the party’s real strength lies with the people, not the governors. “Governors alone don’t make the party; they’re only added value. The people are the party. We’ll go to the field, campaign, and show Nigerians what the APC has failed to do,” he said.
When asked if he could ever consider leaving the PDP, George was unequivocal: “That is absolutely impossible.”
He concluded by expressing confidence in the PDP’s revival, saying the party remains “absolutely redeemable.”
