Politics
Peter Mbah at the center of PDP governors’ crisis as APC courts first-term governors for 2027 ticket
DDM News

The leadership turmoil in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is causing unease among the party’s first-term governors, including Peter Mbah of Enugu State, as they contemplate their political future ahead of the 2027 elections.
Other governors facing similar concerns are Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ime Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).
Investigations by Diaspora digital media (DDM) have revealed that rival parties, notably the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are exploiting the internal divisions in the PDP to entice some of these governors, including Peter Mbah, to switch parties.
While some of these overtures are happening behind the scenes, the Plateau APC leadership has publicly urged Governor Mutfwang to join the ruling party.
In their efforts to persuade him, the Plateau APC has promised Mutfwang an automatic waiver for the APC’s 2027 governorship ticket should he decide to defect.
In Enugu, political figures are increasingly concerned about the growing rapport between Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu, which is fueling speculation about his potential defection to the APC.
Sources close to the PDP suggest that Mbah, like other governors, is being tempted by the prospect of a smooth re-election in 2027, as the ongoing leadership crisis in the PDP could jeopardize his chances.
As the political landscape shifts, the PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF) is scrambling to prevent defections.
The Forum, headed by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has called for an emergency meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31.
Though the agenda for the meeting is not public, sources within the PDP have disclosed that the primary concern is the looming threat of losing first-term governors like Peter Mbah to the APC.
PDP leaders, particularly those with long-standing influence in the Forum, are anxious that ongoing divisions at the national level could offer a legal basis for key governors, including Mbah, to make a switch.
Central to the PDP’s crisis is the Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, whose continued hold on the party leadership is deepening divisions.
Damagum, who assumed office in March 2023 after the removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, was expected to serve temporarily until a substantive chairman from the North Central zone could be elected.
However, efforts to remove him have failed, as he enjoys support from powerful figures within the party.
The battle over the National Secretary’s position within the PDP has only intensified the crisis.
During a recent Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, a violent clash broke out between two National Working Committee (NWC) members, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, both of whom are vying for the position.
These internal squabbles are weakening the PDP at the national level, leaving the party vulnerable to defections, especially among its first-term governors.
The PDP has struggled to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to address the ongoing leadership issues, as various factions within the party continue to block any resolutions.
As the crisis continues, the fate of Peter Mbah and other first-term governors remains uncertain.
With the APC making strategic moves to capitalize on the disarray, the governors are faced with tough decisions regarding their political futures.
Peter Mbah’s position is particularly delicate, as his potential defection could deal a major blow to the PDP in the Southeast region.
With the APC wooing him, his future in the party could have significant implications for the 2027 elections.
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