Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has announced an ambitious target of registering no fewer than two million members into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, declaring that the era of fragmented and fringe politics that denied the state the full benefits of the centre is over.

Governor Mbah made this known on Thursday during the official flag-off of the APC e-registration exercise at Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state, describing the exercise as a defining moment in consolidating the political movement from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

According to the governor, the decision to align with the party at the centre was driven by the need for Enugu State to move from the political sidelines to the centre of national relevance and influence.

“It was just barely two and a half months ago that we chose partnership and progress. The time that we played fragmented politics is over. We no longer want to be on the sidelines; we want to be at the centre and play dominant politics. This requires that we support the politics at the centre,” Mbah said.

He stressed that political relevance must be backed by numbers, noting that Enugu State could not expect equitable treatment at the national level with insignificant political contribution.

“We are not going to give five per cent and expect the same treatment as those who gave ninety-five per cent. We have a duty to change that. That is why we have set a target of registering at least two million people into the APC in Enugu State,” he stated.

Governor Mbah further explained that the mass movement into the APC was collective and people-driven, not centred on any individual or arm of government.

“This movement is total. We have work to do to ensure that the banner of our party is entrenched in our homes, not just our communities, so that our people are not confused about where we stand at the centre, state, and local government levels. We are APC in the morning, APC in the afternoon, and APC in the night,” he declared.

The governor clarified that the defection from the PDP to the APC in October 2025 was not aimed at displacing existing party members, but at strengthening the party and expanding its capacity to deliver greater benefits to Ndi Enugu.

“We have not come to displace anyone. We have come to co-mingle, to increase our numbers and make the party stronger. This politics is about people, not structures. That is why discipline, flexibility, transparency, and inclusiveness are required from all agents, supervisors, and coordinators during this e-registration exercise,” he added.

Mbah also assured party members that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s programmes and policies would increasingly impact grassroots communities, citing the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme as a major intervention.

“The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme is designed to directly empower over 8.8 million Nigerians, with indirect benefits to over 40 million people. It is the bridge between macroeconomic reforms and grassroots impact, and it will lift our people out of poverty,” he said.

In their separate remarks, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Chief Emma Eneukwu, and the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, said the e-registration exercise was aimed at digitalising the party’s database in line with modern global standards.

Chief Eneukwu described the initiative as a shift from outdated methods to a technology-driven political system.

“This e-registration is about abandoning the old ways and embracing the modern world. Just as Governor Mbah has introduced Smart Schools and Smart governance in Enugu, the APC is now embracing smart politics,” he said.

He added that the digital registration process would strengthen the party’s electoral capacity, noting that politics ultimately revolves around numbers and the ability to mobilise verified voters through credible data linked to the National Identification Number (NIN).

The e-registration exercise marks a significant step in the APC’s effort to reposition itself in Enugu State and consolidate its presence ahead of future political engagements.