Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the wave of defections from opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) underscores deep divisions within the opposition while reaffirming the APC’s growing strength and national appeal.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at a grand reception in Enugu for Governor Peter Mbah, his cabinet, and thousands of supporters joining the APC, described the development as “an extraordinary endorsement of the party’s collective vision.”
“Much has been said about the ongoing wave of defections to our great party. What the opposition has failed to do is look into the mirror to ask why the APC remains the preferred destination of Nigeria’s most visionary political actors,” he said.
“Their departures are not accidents; they reveal the cracks in the walls they built and the strength of the bridges we have constructed.
“The APC has, over the years, become a political home where ideas find expression, ambitions find direction, and patriotism finds partnership.”
The Vice President noted that it is not the governing party’s responsibility to fix the opposition but to continue offering Nigerians “a level playing ground and a clear alternative built on integrity, competence, and performance.”
Addressing the crowd at Michael Okpara Square, Shettima credited President Tinubu’s inclusive leadership and commitment to merit for transforming the APC into “the most formidable political platform in Africa.”
“President Tinubu is a man of all seasons and all people, a man whose word is his bond. His sense of inclusion, his rare capacity to listen, and his belief in merit over sentiment have made the APC the most formidable political family in Africa,” he said.
In a light-hearted tone, Shettima joked that Governor Mbah had “always been one of us,” saying he must have “hidden a broom inside his umbrella all these years,” a reference to the APC and PDP symbols.
He told Mbah that, as the new leader of the APC in Enugu State, he now bears the responsibility of rebuilding the party from the grassroots up.
“You are not just a frontline stakeholder within the state; you are now a leading voice at the national level. Mr President has assured you of his full support, and I want to reaffirm that we stand ready to partner with you in deepening development and democratic dividends for the people of Enugu,” he said.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and governors under the Progressive Governors Forum joined Shettima at the event.
They praised Mbah’s record in education, infrastructure, and governance, describing his defection as historic and a sign of the South East’s growing alignment with the ruling party.
Declaring his membership, Governor Mbah described the APC as “the largest political party in Africa,” adding that his move marks “a new beginning” for Enugu.
“We are affirming today collectively that we are going together as a zone to put an end to segmented politics. We are moving to take the opportunity at the national level,” he said.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said Enugu’s entry into the APC fold would further strengthen support for President Tinubu in the South East and reposition the region politically.
