By Buchi Odoh 

In the ever-shifting landscape of Nigerian, the Ruling Party has made bold strides in expanding its influence, capturing key states through high-profile defections. Yet, beneath this veneer of dominance lies a palpable fear of truly free and fair elections. Nowhere is this more evident than in Enugu State, where recent political upheavals reveal the fragility of the ruling party’s hold and underscore the enduring appeal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Enugu’s traditional and optimal choice.

Enugu State has long been a PDP bastion, with the party governing since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. This tradition isn’t mere coincidence; the PDP has historically aligned with the state’s developmental aspirations, fostering infrastructure growth, social welfare programs, and a sense of regional identity that resonates with Enugu’s coal city heritage and agrarian economy. The party’s emphasis on inclusivity and grassroots mobilization has made it a sustained force, even amid national shifts toward the APC. However, in October 2025, Governor Peter Mbah’s defection from the PDP to the APC, along with a wave of lawmakers, councilors, and executives, appeared to signal a seismic shift.

But cracks emerged almost immediately. The influx of former PDP members into the APC created internal tensions, with long-standing “old guard” APC loyalists accusing the newcomers of hijacking party structures. This discontent boiled over during the APC’s local government congress in February 2026, where allegations of process manipulation surfaced across Enugu’s 17 local government areas. Reports indicated that agreed-upon power-sharing arrangements, intended to allocate executive positions fairly between old APC members, PDP defectors, and even some from the Labour Party were flagrantly ignored. Instead, the new entrants dominated key roles, leaving veteran members feeling sidelined and betrayed.

This rift has sparked a recent mass movement back to the PDP, particularly among disgruntled old APC members who see the party as a return to familiar, reliable ground. Social media and local reports buzz with stories of these “reverse defections,” where individuals and groups, frustrated by the APC’s internal chaos, are re-embracing the PDP. This trend isn’t just about personal grievances, rather reflects a broader sentiment that the PDP remains Enugu’s best choice traditionally, due to its proven track record in state governance, and otherwise, because it offers stability in an era of economic uncertainty and federal-state tensions. Analysts predict this could swell PDP ranks significantly ahead of future polls, potentially restoring its dominance in the electoral positions. 

The APC’s apprehension toward free and fair elections stems precisely from such dynamics. Despite “capturing” states like Enugu through defections rather than popular mandates, the party knows that unrigged polls could expose these gains as superficial. In Enugu, voters have shown loyalty to PDP’s principles, and the ongoing back-to-PDP movement highlights how defections often mask underlying dissatisfaction with APC policies, such as economic reforms that have strained local industries. Nationally, similar patterns in other states amplify this fear. The ruling party thrives on strategic alliances and defections, but genuine electoral contests risk revealing public discontent with governance issues like inflation, security, and infrastructure deficits.

As Enugu’s political scene evolves, the PDP’s resilience serves as a reminder that true power lies in voter trust, not opportunistic switches. For the APC, the lesson is dominance built on defections is vulnerable, and free elections could unravel it all, returning states like Enugu to their traditional anchor, PDP.