Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has defended his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move was driven by the need to better serve the interests of the people of the state.
Speaking to journalists shortly after announcing his defection during a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday, the governor dismissed suggestions that his action amounted to a betrayal of the PDP, under which he was elected.
“This is not a betrayal; it is also not abandoning,” he said.
“It is more about thinking I was entrusted with the people’s mandate by the people, and it is also a cost on me carrying that same mandate on a platform that will best serve the people.”
He explained that his decision followed consultations and was rooted in the belief that the PDP platform could no longer serve the people optimally.
“We have people who, under a particular platform, gave me their mandate to lead them,” he said.
“But it became clear to us that the platform on which that mandate was given may not serve us optimally, and then, in consultation with them decided that we’re now going to migrate to a stronger platform that will best serve them.”
His exit from the PDP will be followed by that of Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri, whose defection, it was learnt, had been finalised.
