Political Earthquake in Enugu: Governor Peter Mbah’s Alleged Move to APC Sparks PDP Crisis

The political scene in Enugu State is witnessing intense drama as Governor Peter Mbah’s rumored defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into confusion and deep internal division.

According to a report by The Punch on Saturday, October 11, 2025, the governor’s anticipated switch has exposed sharp splits within the PDP, as loyalists are torn between following Mbah into the ruling APC or staying with the opposition party.

In a bold political maneuver, the APC reportedly dissolved its Enugu State Executive Committee and replaced it with a caretaker committee to manage what appears to be a major political merger.

The newly appointed caretaker chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, confirmed the governor’s readiness to defect, declaring:

“We went to the governor, and he has agreed to move with us into APC. He is not coming alone — he is coming with the whole structure of Enugu PDP.”


Nwoye revealed that the planned defection would include 260 ward councillors, 24 state House of Assembly members, National Assembly representatives, and the entire PDP executive committee, a move that could reshape the political landscape of the Southeast.

However, uncertainty clouds the move. The PDP Publicity Secretary in Enugu admitted that while Governor Mbah holds significant influence within the party, he has not officially informed the PDP leadership of any plans to defect.

Resistance is growing within PDP ranks. Chief Ray Nnaji, a former National Auditor of the party, dismissed claims of mass defection, predicting that “less than 20%” of PDP members would follow Mbah. He accused the governor of alienating local stakeholders and relying heavily on external consultants instead of the party’s grassroots structure.

Some state lawmakers have also expressed frustration, citing unpaid salaries and allowances as part of their discontent with the governor’s leadership.

As tensions rise, Enugu State — long considered a PDP stronghold — may soon witness one of the most significant political realignments in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

Over 600 Killed In Afghan Earthquake.

A devastating earthquake and multiple aftershocks have killed at least 610 people and injured more than 1,500 in eastern Afghanistan, authorities confirmed on Monday.

The quake struck near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province just before midnight, flattening homes and triggering mass casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing with support from the UN and local emergency teams.

#Afghanistan #Earthquake #BreakingNews #GlobalCrisis

Landlords, Occupiers Face N1m Fine, Jail for Uninsured Buildings.

Landlords & occupiers of public buildings in Nigeria now risk a fine of at least N1 million, a jail term of up to 12 months, or both, if they fail to insure their properties against hazards. This follows the signing of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act.

According to the new law, all public buildings must be insured against risks such as coll@pse, fire, earthquakes, storms, floods, and other hazards as determined by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

Public buildings are defined under Section 76 (6) as tenement houses of more than one floor, hostels, buildings occupied by tenants or lodgers, and any structure accessible to the public for education, medical services, recreation, or business transactions.

The Act mandates that such insurance policies cover not only property & lives but also the legal liabilities of landlords and occupiers in cases of injury, death, or damage suffered by users of the premises & third parties.

In addition, every insurer issuing such policies must remit 0.25% of net premiums quarterly into a Fire Services Maintenance Fund, to be managed by NAICOM for grants and firefighting equipment.

Defaulters risk fines up to 10 times the required amount, with persistent offenders facing cancellation of their licenses. The law also empowers NAICOM to order the sealing of any building deemed a public risk if it lacks valid insurance coverage.

Beyond public buildings, Section 77 makes it compulsory for all assets and employees of the Federal Government and its agencies to be insured. Section 78 further mandates compulsory insurance for all petroleum and gas refilling stations, installations, and vehicles transporting such products against third-party losses from fires or explosions.

Owners of petroleum facilities or products in transit are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance, which must be displayed at the station or included in transport documents. Non-compliance attracts a minimum penalty of N1 million, at least two years in prison, or both.

Woman Dies as Earthquake Flattens Buildings in Northwestern Turkey

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Balikesir province, northwestern Turkey, on Sunday evening, killing an elderly woman and injuring at least 29 others.

The quake, centred in the mountainous town of Sindirgi, caused 16 buildings — mostly derelict — to collapse, along with two mosque minarets. Tremors were felt across several provinces, including Istanbul.

Rescue teams pulled four survivors from the rubble, but authorities have urged residents to avoid damaged structures as aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.6, continue.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all relevant agencies had been mobilised to assist victims and expressed wishes for a speedy recovery for those affected.

US Court Blocks Deportation of Hondurans, Nepalese, Nicaraguans Under TPS

A U.S. federal court in California has temporarily halted the deportation of Hondurans, Nepalese, and Nicaraguans whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was revoked by the Trump administration.

In a 37-page ruling, District Judge Trina Thompson criticized the government's actions, writing, “The freedom to live fearlessly, the opportunity of liberty, and the American dream. That is all plaintiffs seek... Instead, they are told to atone for their race, leave because of their names, and purify their blood.”

The Trump administration ended TPS for over 51,000 Hondurans and 3,000 Nicaraguans granted after Hurricane Mitch in 1998, and for about 7,000 Nepalese protected following the 2015 earthquake. Similar actions affecting citizens of Afghanistan, Haiti, Cameroon, and Venezuela are also under legal scrutiny.

Judge Thompson said the terminations appeared to be driven by a “preordained” political motive and possibly “racial animus,” referencing Trump’s 2024 campaign rhetoric about migrants “poisoning the blood” of the country.

The deportation pause will remain in effect until a full hearing scheduled for November 18.

#TPSDeportationBan #ImmigrationJustice #TrumpPolicies #USFederalCour

Evacuations are under way in Japan, Hawaii and some parts of the US West Coast as a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia has triggered tsunami warnings.

19 dead as Bangladesh fighter jet crashes into school.

A Bangladeshi training fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more in the country’s deadliest aviation accident in decades.

An AFP photographer at the scene saw fire and rescue officials taking away the injured students on stretchers, while military personnel helped clear the wreckage.

A military statement said 19 people were killed, including the pilot, and 20 others were critically wounded.

At least 51 people, mostly students, were undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, its director Mohammad Nasir Uddin told AFP.

The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft crashed moments after students were let out of class at 1:00 pm (0700 GMT) at the Milestone School and College.

A witness said he heard a huge blast that felt like an earthquake.

“We have two playgrounds, one for the senior students and one for the juniors,” said Shafiur Rahman Shafi, 18, who is enrolled at the school.

“We were on the playground for the seniors. There were two fighter planes… Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground),” he told AFP.

“It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later.”

The interim government of Muhammad Yunus announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday.

Grieving parents and relatives of the victims thronged the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute.

Tofazzal Hossain, 30, broke down in tears on learning that his young cousin had been killed.

“We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals,” Hossain told AFP.

“He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body.”

Yunus expressed “deep grief and sorrow” over the incident in a post on X.

“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” he said.

“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”

The crash was the worst aviation accident in the country in several decades.

The deadliest ever disaster happened in 1984 when a plane flying from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 on board.

Last month, a commercial aircraft crashed in neighbouring India, killing 260 people.