In what many political observers have described as a game-changer for opposition politics in Enugu State, Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, the Member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection positions him as a pivotal figure in the party’s emerging growth trajectory in the state.
Elected on the Labour Party platform, Umeha formally defected to the APC on May 17, 2025, during a well-attended rally in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area.
His move, which drew applause and strategic interest, marks a historic development—he becomes the first elected political officeholder on the APC platform in Enugu State.
The significance of this political shift was further underscored on June 7, when Umeha was officially received into the APC by the National Chairman, represented by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Emma Eneukwu.
This high-profile endorsement not only signaled the party’s intensified focus on Enugu politics but also validated Umeha’s stature as a strategic political asset.
“Hon. Umeha’s entry into the APC has redefined the political direction of Enugu State. He brings grassroots support, legislative experience, and bold leadership. With him, the APC has found not just a member, but a pathfinder,” Chief Emma Eneukwu, during the reception at Akama-Oghe Hall.
The ripple effects of Umeha’s defection were immediate and profound. In a dramatic realignment, no fewer than 40 ward chairmen of the Labour Party from Udi and Ezeagu also announced their defection to the APC, pledging loyalty to Umeha’s new political direction.
This mass defection has disrupted existing political calculations in the constituency and beyond.
As political dynamics in Udi and Ezeagu continue to shift, Umeha has wasted no time consolidating his influence.
He has embarked on a strategic mission to strengthen APC structures, holding consultative meetings, rebuilding party units, and forging new alliances across Enugu State.
Political analysts view Umeha’s move as indicative of larger realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many suggesting that his emergence could spark a wave of further defections and reposition the APC as a formidable force in Enugu State politics.
“Umeha is the face of political courage and recalibration. He has not only broken the dominance of traditional parties but has proven that the APC can gain strong grassroots acceptability in Enugu,”
— Political analyst based in Enugu.
As Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha cements his position within the APC and charts new ground for the party in Enugu State, one thing is certain: he is no longer just a lawmaker — he is the new bride of the APC in Enugu, and perhaps the face of the political transformation the party has long awaited.
