Governor Umo Eno Set to Dump PDP for APC, Tells Appointees to Follow Suit or Step Down
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has reportedly declared his intention to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), instructing his commissioners and other political appointees to either join him or tender their resignations.
The disclosure was allegedly made during a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, according to a Government House insider who spoke under the condition of anonymity.
Governor Eno was quoted as saying, “Anyone still unaware of my plan to leave the PDP is stuck in the past. Apart from elected officials like members of the House of Assembly and Local Government Chairmen, I have no negotiations to make with any of you.” He also warned those who might try to challenge him using the PDP platform after his defection, insisting that he would maintain control of the party’s structure in Akwa Ibom.
He cited his admiration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership style as a major reason behind his decision to align with the APC, framing the move as a strategic political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Efforts to reach the PDP state chairman, Aniekan Akpan, were unsuccessful as his phone lines remained unreachable. However, the Director of APC Media Network in Akwa Ibom, Iniobong John, confirmed the governor’s planned defection. “It’s no longer a rumour. I can confirm that Governor Eno is joining our party very soon,” he told reporters, adding that while no official date has been fixed, preparations are already in place.
John welcomed the development, describing it as “good news” for both the APC and the people of Akwa Ibom, saying it would strengthen the state’s ties to the national government. The governor’s expected defection is seen as a significant political shift that could reshape the landscape in Akwa Ibom as 2027 approaches.
