Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, has received Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 governorship election, back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Edeoga, who vied for the PDP’s governorship ticket in 2022 but lost to Mbah, returned to the party on Monday.
On Wednesday, Mbah commended the ex-opposition flagbearer for demonstrating that “politics is not a do-or-die affair”.
The governor said Edeoga’s return reflects the party’s reconciliation principle and people-centred focus, urging him and his supporters to feel at home.
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“The symbolism of your action is a mark of the enduring bond that runs in our party. I am indeed very delighted to have you back to rejoin your family,” Mbah said.
“What we are witnessing today is a result of fence-mending consistent with the philosophy of our party and the imperatives of reconciliation.
“It is also a demonstration on your part that politics is not a do-or-die affair. I commend you greatly for making such a courageous bold step.
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“The lesson for us is quite profound, as it shows that the common denominator even when we express our aspirations on different political platforms, is all about the people and making them the centerpiece of our ambitions.”
Edeoga commended Mbah for facilitating his return to the PDP, describing it as a “paradigm shift from politics of animosity to politics of empathy and people-centred development”.
“I thank Your Excellency for overseeing the process that has culminated in my return to the PDP and my visit to your office,” he said.
“It is easy to downplay what has happened. But something like this has not happened in the annals of politics in Enugu state.
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“I commend your wisdom, I commend your empathy, I commend your mental sagacity.”
Edeoga reiterated his commitment to the ideals of the PDP and pledged to work for the party’s victory in coming elections.
