Ex-Labour Party Bigwigs Jump Ship for PDP in Enugu
Allies including Mamah, Defect to PDP Led by Peter Obi in Enugu
In an unexpected twist, key figures from Peter Obi's Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State have decided to switch allegiances to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defection wave began with the governor candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, and has now swept up campaign coordinator, Prince Emeka Mamah, and former spokesman, Titus Odoh.
According to our reports, Mamah and Odoh - formerly the LP's chairmanship candidate for Igboeze North - were warmly welcomed into the PDP by the state chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, on Tuesday.
Speaking on the matter, Mamah expressed his admiration for Governor Peter Mbah's governance, stating, "The present governor, Peter Mbah, has revolutionized the concept of governance in Enugu State." He further added that he and many other former LP members would be joining the PDP.
When asked about the impending wave of LP members moving to the PDP, Mamah stated, "There will be a massive shift of people that I worked with when we were with Barr Chijioke Edeoga and Peter Obi in the last elections. Many of our members are going to be part of this movement to PDP and in support of Peter Ndubuisi Mbah."
Welcoming the newcomers, Enugu's PDP Chairman, Chukwunweike, praised their decision to join the PDP, hinting at four National Assembly members set to follow suit soon.
Governor Mbah, himself, took to Martin Chukwunwike's words, commenting that these "defectors are drawn to the party due to the PDP’s reputation for stability and strong leadership." He went on to emphasize, "We are going to take in not less than four from the national assembly."
Additional Insights
The shift in loyalty among key LP members seems to be driven by both the positive attributes of the PDP and the strife within the LP.
- Strong Leadership and Performance: Prince Emeka Mamah, a high-ranking member of Peter Obi's campaign in Enugu, cited Governor Mbah's leadership prowess as a compelling reason for his defection. Similarly, Titus Odoh was swayed by Governor Mbah's "giant strides" toward improving Enugu State.
- Stability : There appears to be a perception of instability and internal conflicts within the Labour Party, as highlighted by Eze Gabriel, a lawmaker who defected earlier. In contrast, the PDP is seen as more stable and better equipped to advance Enugu State's development.
- Personal Relationships: Barr Titus Odo mentioned that Chijioke Edeoga played a crucial role in his decision to join the PDP, indicating that personal relationships and alliances among Enugu's political landscape hold significant influence over these defections.
- Ex-Labour Party members, including Chijioke Edeoga, Prince Emeka Mamah, and Titus Odoh, have shifted their allegiance from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State.
- During his speech, Prince Emeka Mamah lauded Governor Peter Mbah's leadership and governance, stating that the PDP's candidate has revolutionized the concept of governance in Enugu State.
- Enugu's PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, warmly welcomed the newcomers, hinting at four National Assembly members planning to defect to the PDP soon.
- Governor Mbah commended the PDP for its reputation for stability and strong leadership, stating that these are the factors drawing the defectors to the party.
- The shift in loyalty among key Labour Party members seems driven by personal relationships, as well as the perceived instability and internal conflicts within the Labour Party compared to the PDP.
- The Naija follow-up on the general news reports suggested that these defections and the defectors' intentions could have significant implications for policy-and-legislation and politics in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
