Vice President Kashim Shettima says the increasing wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from opposition parties has exposed deep cracks in their ranks, affirming that the ruling party’s unity and inclusive leadership continue to attract Nigeria’s most visionary political actors.
Speaking in Enugu on Tuesday at a grand reception held in honour of Governor Peter Mbah, his cabinet members, and thousands of supporters who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, Shettima described the development as “an extraordinary endorsement” of the APC’s ideology and leadership direction under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Their departures are not accidents; they reveal the cracks in the walls they built and the strength of the bridges we have constructed,” Shettima declared before a jubilant crowd at the Michael Okpara Square. “The APC has become a political home where ideas find expression, where ambitions find direction, and where patriotism finds partnership.”
Representing President Tinubu, the Vice President said the APC’s growing strength was a result of the President’s inclusive leadership, his ability to listen, and his merit-driven approach to governance. “President Tinubu is a man of all seasons a man whose word is his bond. His sense of inclusion and capacity to listen have made the APC the most formidable political family in Africa,” he added.
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Shettima said the Tinubu administration’s focus is not on fixing the opposition but on providing Nigerians with a credible, performance-driven alternative rooted in integrity and competence. “That we are chosen again and again as the political party of the moment and of the future is because we represent order over chaos, progress over paralysis, and hope over despair,” he stated.
Turning to Governor Mbah, Shettima described his defection as a “homecoming,” noting that the governor had long shared the ideals of the progressives. “Your Excellency, you have always been one of us. I am convinced you had a broom hidden in your umbrella all these years, waiting for the right moment to bring it out,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The Vice President further declared Governor Mbah the new leader of the APC in Enugu State, charging him to strengthen the party at the grassroots and deepen democratic dividends for the people. “You now carry the noble challenge of rebuilding the APC in Enugu State. You are not just a stakeholder within the state; you are a leading voice at the national level,” he affirmed.
Shettima praised Mbah’s achievements in governance and expressed optimism that his leadership would help consolidate APC’s influence in the South East. “Your coming enriches our story and reinforces our mission. You are an asset to this party, and we do not take the strength and credibility you bring for granted,” he said.
Also speaking, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda welcomed Governor Mbah and his supporters to what he called “the soul and family of progressives,” describing the defection as a testament to the governor’s developmental strides. “Governor Mbah has revamped education and built roads. He has a progressive heart — that is why we are glad to welcome him home,” he said.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended Mbah for transforming Enugu within two years, noting that his entry into the APC would further boost development and strengthen national unity.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the event marked “a historic day for the government and people of Enugu,” adding that the governor’s decision signaled the beginning of a new political alignment in the South East. “With this, we are confident the entire region will soon join the progressives’ family,” he stated.
In his declaration speech, Governor Mbah described the APC as “the largest political party in Africa,” saying his decision was a collective move by his political family and the people of Enugu. “We are affirming today, collectively, that we are going together as a zone to end segmented politics. We are moving to take opportunities at the national level,” he said.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, expressed joy at Mbah’s entry into the APC, saying his presence would strengthen support for President Tinubu in the South East and reposition the region in national politics.
Thousands of supporters from across the state thronged the event, waving brooms and chanting party slogans as APC leaders pledged unity and progress. The defection, analysts say, is one of the most significant political realignments in the South East since 2015, underscoring the ruling party’s growing foothold in a region once dominated by the opposition.