.…..says “He’s Had a Broom Hidden in His Umbrella”
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday declared Governor Peter Mbah as the new leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
Speaking at a grand rally held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, to formally welcome Mbah and his supporters into the APC fold, Shettima said the party’s constitution recognises every sitting governor as its leader in their respective states.
“As far as the APC Constitution is concerned, the governor is the leader of the party in the state,” Shettima stated. “Your Excellency, you are now the leader of the APC family in Enugu State. I am the Vice President, but in Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum is the leader. The Senate President is the number three citizen, but in Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno leads the APC. The Speaker of the House is number four, but the leader in Kaduna is the state governor.”
Describing the Igbo people as the “Nigerian Jews”—geographically mobile, economically enterprising, and educationally ambitious—Shettima lamented their political marginalisation over the past decade but expressed optimism that the trend was changing.
“With the coming of Mbah, and the continued efforts of Governors Hope Uzodinma and Francis Nwifuru, I believe the Ndigbo have returned to the mainstream of Nigerian politics,” he said.
The Vice President assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration remains committed to inclusivity, equity, and merit. “President Tinubu is a man for all Nigerians—a leader whose word is his bond and who values merit above sentiment,” he said.
In a lighter tone, Shettima quipped that Mbah had always been a progressive at heart. “You are one of us. I’m convinced you had a broom hidden in your umbrella all these years, waiting for the right moment to bring it out,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Earlier, Governor Mbah said his decision to join the APC was driven by a desire to advance Enugu’s development through a broader national partnership.
“I am committed to advancing the interests of Enugu State, and I believe the APC offers the best platform for collaboration, growth, and transformative change,” Mbah said.
He pledged to align his administration’s vision with the party’s progressive ideals to accelerate development in the state.
The event was attended by APC governors, party leaders from the South-East, and top government officials, who described Mbah’s defection as a strategic political realignment that would strengthen the party’s base in the region.