Veteran Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Board of Trustees (BoT) member Chief Bode George has expressed surprise over the defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, George said he had no prior indication that Mbah planned to leave the PDP, despite several reconciliation efforts by senior party figures to resolve internal grievances within the party’s South-East bloc.

“I never saw it at any time,” George said. “In fact, when Anyanwu was brought back as secretary to complete his assignment, he asked his people not to attend meetings. We were wondering what was going on in the South-East. Now that we have settled the matter and fixed the convention date, it’s only a question of time. Whatever position the East wanted to give him would have been his. So, what’s the essence of leaving now?”

George revealed that PDP elders had visited Mbah to persuade him to remain in the party. “The governor, we all waded in and convinced him. Many people went there, telling him, ‘Calm down, the convention is next month. You’ll get whatever is due to the South-East.’ But the rationale and emphasis he gave, it was like I was in a very long dream,” he said.

Despite the shock, George wished the governor well, maintaining that the PDP remains strong and enduring. “I wish him the best of luck. This is not the first time people are leaving. The PDP is like an iroko tree — it will stand. I wish them well,” he said.

George dismissed the notion that the defection of governors would weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Governors alone don’t make the party; they’re only an added value,” he said. “The people make up the party. We’ll go to the field and tell Nigerians what the APC has done or failed to do to put smiles on their faces. It’s not just about holding office. We’ll make sure the will of Nigerians prevails.”

When asked whether he could ever leave the PDP, George was unequivocal. “That is absolutely impossible,” he stated. He added that while the party faces turbulence, it remains “absolutely redeemable.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Peter Mbah officially announced his defection to the APC during a statewide broadcast, citing the need to align with the federal government to attract more development to Enugu State.

“Today, after deep reflection, we’ve decided to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,” Mbah said. “Leadership demands difficult decisions in pursuit of higher goals. My decision to join the APC is to better serve the people of Enugu and align with the party’s vision for progress.”

He praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, noting that Enugu had benefitted from “massive support” under the current government.

Mbah was received into the APC by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior party leaders.

With Mbah’s defection, the APC now governs three of the five South-East states, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo, while Abia remains under the Labour Party (LP) and Anambra under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).