The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have said that the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has not told them of his plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Saturday.
Governor Mohammed said,
“Actually, Governor Mbah has not told us his position. It is a personal decision. Up till now, he has not told me he is leaving.
“I have discussed this issue with him separately, and he has given me assurances. He is a governor like me. I respect him and his decisions.”
Some key APC leaders had, on Friday, confirmed plans by Mbah to officially defect to the ruling party on Tuesday, 14th October, a claim that the Enugu governor has yet to refute.
The PDP Governors Forum chair expressed concern over the gale of defections sweeping through the opposition party in recent times.
Recall that two PDP governors similarly defected to the APC earlier in the year. They are Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, is also rumoured to be on his way to dumping the PDP for the APC any time soon.
Bemoaning the situation, Governor Bala said, “If you ask me whether I am concerned about our governors leaving for APC.
“I am more than concerned. But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or actions of my colleagues. But certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes.
“The defections would have been more devastating at the onset. But we have been talking and discussing.
“You know the style of leadership of the APC-led federal government in trying to make this country a one-party state. They have the power of coercion; they have the power of everything.”
The Bauchi governor said he would not judge those defecting to the APC, adding, however, that he has been advising members to remain in the PDP.
According to him, those who defected to the APC are not finding things easier there.
“I cannot say that my defecting colleagues are wrong; they are free to do whatever they choose.
“If somebody goes, just like a bird, they go; others come. Please don’t blame anybody at the governors’ level; we are doing our best, but it is beyond our control.
“But I have been advising them that even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections,” he said.
Explaining the reasons behind some of the defections, the governor said some are informed by permutations and calculations.
He dismissed rumours about his own defection, saying, “I will not denigrate or speak negatively about my colleagues. But I assure you, I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division.
“Even today, I saw in the news that one of my senators is going. They are being controlled. They are being bought.
“But certainly, the state (Bauchi) is PDP, and the issue is PDP because Nigerians want change, and they believe they can get it through the PDP.
“Most of the measurable achievements by the federal government were done by the PDP regimes.
“By the grace of God, if we stand firm, we will deliver. Nobody stops you from leaving. You are free to leave so that you can create space for others to come around for governance.
“Some of us who won as governors were not even considered capable, and here we are. That’s what will play out in 2027.
“I am optimistic that we will get a new set of leaders in 2027 who will defeat the deceptive style of the APC. We are coming up with true leaders who will listen to Nigerians and address their challenges by the grace of God.”
When asked for comments on the position of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor Mohammed said Fubara remains a bona fide member of the PDP.
“He has not left the party; he is still PDP. Everybody has their own style. He is a humble young man who has gone through so much. He has done well to accommodate all the problems and challenges he found himself in. Certainly, he is still in PDP,” he said.
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