On Thursday, two Labour Party (LP) members from Enugu State—Dennis Agbo, representing Igboeze/Udenu, and Mark-Chidi Obetta, representing Igboeze South/Nsukka Federal Constituencies—defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They were accompanied by Malachi-Okey Onyechi, the member for Nsukka West State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Most of the defectors were originally PDP members who left the party during the 2023 general elections to join the LP.
Speaking at the defection event held at the PDP Secretariat in Enugu, Onyechi said he was pleased to reunite with his former party and pledged to work harmoniously to advance its interests. He praised Governor Peter Mbah’s developmental strides, citing the N2 billion project spread across 260 political wards in the state.
Obetta explained that his return was driven by the administration’s performance in key sectors such as transportation, education, health, and hospitality, adding, “Enugu State will achieve more if everyone partners with Mbah.”
Agbo thanked his constituents for their support and described them as “a great people.” He declared that following their departure, the LP would struggle to remain relevant in Enugu State, adding that opposition politics in the state would now be significantly weakened. He also lauded Governor Mbah’s leadership, saying he deserved a second term.
Welcoming the returnees, PDP Chairman in Enugu State, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, expressed delight at their decision to return, stating that their move signalled the end of the challenges the party faced in the 2023 elections.
“With their defection, the trouble we encountered in the 2023 election is over. The tsunami is over, and 2027 will be seamless,” he said.
