Governor Peter Mbah has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressive Congress.

In a video of his defection speech, Mr Mbah expressed his appreciation to the PDP for giving him a platform before announcing his defection to the APC.

“Today, after a long period of reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and join the APC,” Mr Mbah said.

Mr Mbah’s speech was cheered by his audience, who chanted a pro-Bola Tinubu song, “on your mandate we shall stand.”

It was earlier reported that Enugu was agog ahead of the governor’s defection. According to a statement on Tuesday, various critical segments of the state, as well as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have thrown their weight behind Mr Mbah’s decision to join the APC.

The statement said that the former chairman of the party in Enugu, Augustine Nnamani, maintained that the PDP has itself to blame for precipitating the mass exodus from the party.

The chairman said that the party “mistreated and betrayed the people of the South-East” and Mr Mbah by failing to recognise Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the national secretary, in line with established tradition in the party.

“The PDP chose a few people in Abuja over and above the South-East. Mbah has exited as spelt out in their region’s communique in May to leave the party if its choice was not respected,” the statement added.

It decried the crisis in the PDP and injustice to the region, which had cost the party one of the best-performing governors presently in Nigeria and reduced the PDP from controlling the five South-East states to losing everything.

It added that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in Enugu also applauded Mr Mbah “for taking the bold step of joining the ruling APC.”

Meanwhile, the PDP has announced the postponement of its 103rd National Executive Committee meeting, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, citing recent developments within the party.