The political landscape of Enugu State witnessed a major shakeup over the weekend as the All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded a significant breakthrough with the defection of the member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Umeha, from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC.
Umeha made the announcement during a mini-rally held at Ibagwa-Aka, Igboeze South Local Government Area. The event also marked the mass defection of more than 1,000 LP members led by Chief Joshua Ogbonna, a prominent business figure and financier of the Labour Party in Igboeze South, popularly known as “Father Father.”
Speaking at the rally, Umeha cited deep-seated internal crises and unending factionalism within the Labour Party both at the national and state levels as reasons for his exit. He disclosed that although the rally was held outside his constituency, he attended in solidarity with Chief Ogbonna, who played a pivotal role in his decision. He further revealed that he had officially resigned from the LP and registered with the APC at his ward in Ezeagu.
According to him, “There is a need to connect to the centre and bring our people closer. The APC has delivered critical infrastructure in Igbo land, including the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways, and the Second Niger Bridge — achievements the PDP failed to deliver for years.”
The defection makes Umeha the first APC elected representative in Enugu State since the party's inception in 2014.
Representing the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and APC leader in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, was Barr. George Ogara, who lauded the defection as unprecedented. “The sheer number of grassroots leaders and party structures decamping today is historic. This is the beginning of a political revolution in Enugu State,” Ogara stated.
Enugu APC Chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah, who received the new members, declared that the broom revolution had begun and APC was poised to take over the Lion Building come 2027. He blamed the PDP’s 26-year rule for high taxation, land grabbing, demolition of livelihoods, and the general mismanagement of state resources.
“This is a total collapse of LP’s structure in Igboeze South. Today, we welcome you with our party’s symbol — the broom. With it, we will sweep away corruption and deliver good governance,” Agballah said.
He expressed gratitude to Barr. Peter Okonkwo, an APC chieftain from Nsukka LGA, for donating the Enugu North Senatorial Campaign Office and helping coordinate the defections.
Chief Ogbonna, speaking on behalf of the defectors, narrated the challenges they faced in attending the rally, including the seizure of buses meant to transport them — an attempt he alleged was orchestrated by political opponents. Despite these efforts, he affirmed that more than 1,000 people turned up, some arriving via commercial motorcycles.
“Work begins today in Igboeze South. We’ll move from ward to ward. I assure you, Igboeze South will lead the APC charge,” he declared.
The defection event is being hailed as a pivotal moment in Enugu’s political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
