Governor Umo Eno’s impending defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ignited palpable tension across Akwa Ibom State.
The governor is expected to officially announce his defection today, June 6, 2025, sparking widespread unease among political stakeholders and residents alike.
Governor Umo Eno, who leads Akwa Ibom State, is poised to shift allegiance to the ruling APC.
The announcement, anticipated in the state capital Uyo, comes amid strategic consultations and mounting opposition.
His move is aimed at aligning Akwa Ibom more closely with the federal government ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Public rejection at Ikot Abasi Town Hall
Recall that in a town hall meeting held in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, Governor Eno openly declared his intention to defect from the PDP to APC, only to be met with loud resistance.
Addressing the crowd, he said, “We’re progressively moving forward, linking Akwa Ibom to the center. And I know you’re going with us. Are you going with us, so we can connect to the center?”
The crowd responded with a thunderous “No!” that overwhelmed the scattered “Yes” voices, casting a tense atmosphere over the meeting held at the Ikot Abasi Local Government Grounds.
Despite this public rejection, the governor remained resolute, stating, “We thank you for your support. I’ve gone round to consult… And so we have done enough consultation. The time has come that we will move. And we will go to where God is leading us.”
Governor Eno framed his defection as a strategic necessity for Akwa Ibom to “belong and be counted” in national politics, explicitly linking his move to support for President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged the public, “Do not be afraid. Believe in us. Believe in President Bola Tinubu because the future is bright.”
He further warned of the dangers of political fragmentation, asserting, “We are already a minority state in Nigeria. If we come again and start breaking ourselves into pieces, we become minority of the minorities and cannot get anything.”
Sources reveal Governor Eno recently doubled the monthly allowance of his 368 ward Personal Assistants (PAs) from ₦250,000 to ₦500,000 effective November 2024.
While the governor consults widely, many of his Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), and PAs have declined to comment on whether they will follow him to the APC.
Meanwhile, the PDP camp in Akwa Ibom remains unusually silent, with prominent party elders and stakeholders refraining from public statements, a silence political analysts attribute to a mix of shock and strategic caution.
His final word on the matter encapsulates his conviction: “The time has come that we will move. And we will go to where God is leading us.”
