Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State have pledged to rebuild and reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, following Governor Peter Mbah’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Mbah, who officially joined the ruling APC on Tuesday, said his decision was driven by what he described as the PDP’s “unjust treatment of the South East.” However, his defection has drawn sharp criticism from party loyalists and residents who believe the move was motivated by personal interests rather than the collective good of the people.

Speaking on a radio programme in Enugu on Wednesday, Dr Okey Ozoani, former PDP State Youth Leader and Vice Chairman, expressed optimism about the party’s future despite the governor’s exit.

“I thank God that they have defected, so we will now come back and rebuild our party, PDP,” Ozoani said. “I urge all true PDP members to remain resilient and calm because good things are coming.”

He questioned the impact of Mbah’s defection on the state’s challenges, adding, “Is defecting going to reduce taxation in Enugu State? Don’t you know that Enugu is one of the most expensive and insecure states to live in Nigeria?”

Also reacting, a former Chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Nick Ozonsi, called for comprehensive reform of the Nigerian political system.

“What you cannot do in party A, how are you going to do it in party B?” he asked. “Nigerians should take the issue of defections seriously, especially when politicians abandon the same parties that nurtured them.”

Other residents who spoke on the matter condemned the frequent switching of political allegiances by elected officials.

A PDP loyalist, Mr Nwoke Eze, said Mbah’s decision reflected “political short-sightedness,” pointing out that President Bola Tinubu did not need to join the federal ruling party to make Lagos work during his time as governor.

Another resident, Alika John, described the trend of political defection as “criminal,” saying, “I personally don’t like how politicians get into office through a particular party and then dump the party and still retain their positions.”

Similarly, a social commentator, Dr Dele Maxwell, urged Nigeria to evolve a more ideology-driven political culture rather than one based on personalities.

“It doesn’t help us,” he said. “We should develop a system where parties have clear identities — one person is in PDP, expanding PDP; another is in APC, expanding APC. That’s how democracies grow.”

Despite the controversy surrounding Governor Mbah’s defection, PDP members in Enugu say the move has reenergised their resolve to rebuild the party’s grassroots structures and reclaim the state’s political dominance ahead of the next election cycle.