Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement was made on Tuesday during a press conference in Enugu, where the governor said the decision followed “deep reflection” and was guided by his commitment to better serve the people of the state.

Mbah explained that joining the APC would allow him to align more closely with the ruling party’s vision for development and progress, noting that it presented “greater opportunities for collaboration and growth.”

He expressed appreciation to the PDP for the platform that brought him to power, describing the party as an important part of his political journey.

“To the Peoples Democratic Party which provided us the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us through a demanding campaign and joined us in celebrating the victory,” he said.

“Leadership demands difficult, even painful decisions, in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes always a time where everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny. Today, after a long reflection, we have made a decision to join the All Progressives Congress.”

Mbah assured residents of Enugu that his defection would not derail his administration’s focus on service delivery and infrastructural development, stressing that it was a strategic move aimed at accelerating the state’s growth.

The defection comes a day after members of his cabinet reportedly joined the APC, setting the stage for his formal declaration.

Broom traders in Enugu State are recording brisk sales following the defection of Governor Peter Mbah from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mbah’s defection, which is expected to be formally announced on Tuesday, reportedly involved all his political appointees, who also resigned from the PDP after an extended cabinet meeting at the Government House on Monday.

A video posted by Mbah’s media aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the mass defection as state officials were seen waving APC flags and chanting praises of both the governor and President Bola Tinubu. In the video, the excited appointees could be heard declaring, “We are now in APC, tomorrow is here; it is APC all the way; it is Jagaban all the way.”

According to a Leadership Newspaper correspondent who visited major markets in the state, the development has triggered a shortage of brooms — the official symbol of the APC — as demand surged ahead of the planned defection ceremony.

Traders said the rush for brooms began shortly after news of the defection broke, with many new sellers joining the trade to meet growing demand.

At the Kenyatta Market, a trader, Obinna Maduagwu, said he had been making significant profits since rumours of the defection began circulating. “Honestly, since the rumor started, we have been experiencing a boom in our business. I have been doing supply, and I have been making serious money,” he said.

Another trader, Mrs. Ifeoma Obigeri, confirmed that her entire stock sold out early Tuesday morning after PDP members reportedly bought up her remaining brooms.

Similarly, at Udi Market, Miss Ifeoma Ngene said members of the APC women’s wing cleared her entire stock on Friday, urging her to restock for future events.

At Artisan Market, Mrs. Grace Okeke said she had completely sold out as well. “How I wish this kind of political event would be happening in Enugu daily. As I speak with you, I don’t have a single broom because the APC people came to clear all the brooms for their event tomorrow,” she said.

The mass demand has created what traders are describing as a “broom boom” across Enugu State, coinciding with Mbah’s anticipated formal defection and rallying of supporters to the APC.

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called for a comprehensive review of the disciplinary control system in Nigeria’s civil service to drive cultural change, value reorientation, and eliminate delays in handling disciplinary matters.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Taiwo Hassan, Olaopa made the call during a one-day joint retreat between the FCSC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

“The Chairman called for holistic review of disciplinary control in the civil service to drive deep-seated culture change, value reorientation and reverse the delays handling of disciplinary in the service,” the statement partly read.

Olaopa likened the relationship between the two bodies to that of “Siamese twins,” noting that both play critical roles in implementing policies, enforcing regulations, and providing leadership within the nation’s public service.

He explained that although their responsibilities overlap, open dialogue and collaboration are essential to prevent conflict and ensure efficient governance. “There was a thin line in the shared central governance responsibilities of the two offices, and there are bound to be some measures of conflict and tension around the boundaries of roles, jurisdictions and operations in actual practice,” he said.

Olaopa added that the retreat was organised to encourage open communication, co-creation, and joint problem-solving, fostering a partnership built on trust and mutual understanding.

The FCSC boss also underscored the need to align merit-based human resource practices, performance management, and the wage structure with competency standards, describing such reforms as crucial to restoring the Federal Government’s image as an “employer of choice.”

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Esther Walson-Jack, described the retreat as a renewed partnership between the two agencies. She commended Olaopa for his “unwavering support” and lauded the FCSC for introducing reforms such as the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for promotion examinations and merit-driven recruitment processes aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness.

The call for disciplinary reform comes amid concerns over bureaucratic bottlenecks, prolonged investigations, and weak accountability mechanisms within the public service. Stakeholders have repeatedly urged better synergy between the FCSC and OHCSF to address overlapping mandates and administrative inefficiencies that have long hindered effective service delivery.