By Prosper Olayiwola
Enugu State has witnessed a major realignment as the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr. A.C. Udeh, alongside the party’s former Woman Leader, Lolo Nwankwo, more than ten former local government chairmen, and several grassroots members of the APC, have formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Their defection, which comes barely a week after Governor Peter Mbah switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, marks yet another wave of political movement reshaping the state’s power dynamics. 
The defectors were officially welcomed into the ADC during the party’s Enugu State Stakeholders’ Meeting held this week at the ADC State Secretariat in Enugu, the state capital.
According to party insiders, the mass defection followed growing internal conflicts within the Enugu APC, a crisis said to have deepened after Governor Mbah’s entry into the party triggered a fierce struggle for control of its structure and leadership.
A senior party source disclosed that several long-standing members felt marginalized by the sudden influx of new power blocs aligned with the governor, prompting many to seek political refuge elsewhere.
In their remarks during the meeting, the defectors pledged total loyalty to the ADC and vowed to strengthen the party’s grassroots machinery across all local government areas of the state.
“We are here to build, not to divide. The ADC represents a fresh start and a platform for people-oriented politics,” one of the defectors stated.
Meanwhile, the ADC leadership announced the commencement of a statewide membership registration exercise across all wards in Enugu, describing it as a strategic move to rebuild the party’s grassroots base and position it as a credible alternative ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, the ADC leadership announced the commencement of a statewide membership registration exercise across all wards in Enugu, describing it as a strategic move to rebuild the party’s grassroots base and position it as a credible alternative ahead of future elections.
READ ALSO: Moment Tinubu Arrived Enugu For Official Visit [Photos]
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the ADC leadership emphasized that only registered and verified members would be eligible to participate in upcoming congresses and internal elections.
“We are giving all coalition partners and interested individuals the opportunity to join officially during this registration exercise,” the communiqué read. “However, no one can remain in another political party and expect to participate in ADC’s internal activities. The rule is clear — you must first resign from your former political affiliation.”
The party also warned against premature talks of harmonization or alliance-building with individuals who have not formally joined the ADC, stressing that such engagements would only take place after due registration and verification.
“Discussions about harmonization cannot occur with non-members,” the communiqué added. “The ADC stands for transparency and due process, and every political relationship must be based on membership legitimacy.”
With this latest round of defections, political analysts predict a possible shift in Enugu’s opposition landscape, as the ADC positions itself to attract aggrieved members from both the APC and PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
