The delegation was led by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, during a high-level engagement focused on development priorities in the state and the wider South-East region.

During the meeting, President Tinubu assured the stakeholders of continued federal attention to key infrastructure challenges, particularly in transport and power.

Addressing the delegation, he noted that major projects such as the Port Harcourt–Enugu rail line, ongoing power sector reforms, and other critical infrastructure needed for economic growth would receive greater attention from his administration.

Governor Mbah recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that has continued to generate political reactions.

Meanwhile, the PDP has reacted to the wave of defections from its ranks to the APC, saying the affected governors and political leaders would soon regret their decisions.

The opposition party made the comment after the APC ruled out automatic tickets for defecting governors.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, accused the defectors of acting out of personal interest rather than the welfare of citizens, adding that their actions were not surprising.

He further stated that the APC does not truly value its members and described the situation as the beginning of regret for those who left the PDP.

Several governors, including those from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Enugu, Taraba, Rivers, and Kano States, alongside lawmakers and other political figures, have recently moved from the PDP to the APC.

News reports that Atiku made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with members of the Coalition for Democracy Movement, led by Jibril Shehu Mustapha, where discussions focused on improving electoral integrity and strengthening nationwide political coordination.

In a post shared on his handle, Atiku emphasised the importance of putting in place strong measures to prevent electoral manipulation.

He noted that the coalition presented details of its nationwide structure and reaffirmed its support for his political engagements, particularly efforts aimed at protecting votes and ensuring a credible electoral process.

Atiku expressed appreciation for the group’s backing, commending their consistency and assuring them that their sacrifices and contributions would be remembered.

He wrote that he drew attention to increasing concerns about manipulation during elections, especially at collation centres, stressing the need for effective safeguards while thanking the coalition for its continued support.

He further assured the group that their efforts in defending democracy would not be forgotten and would be recognized in history.