UYO, NIGERIA — In a political twist that’s shaking Akwa Ibom State to its core, Governor Umo Eno has officially abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made during a high-stakes address at the Government House in Uyo on Friday, bringing an end to weeks of speculation and silent whispers that had rippled through the state’s political corridors.
“After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC,” Eno declared to a room packed with state officials, party chieftains, and national delegates.
The defection, he revealed, followed three months of “wide consultation” with key stakeholders across the state. In his words, it is not just a political maneuver, but a strategic realignment to “position Akwa Ibom at the center of national progress.”
Governor Eno was candid about his motivations: admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, the need for synergy with the federal government, and a desire to work more closely with Senate President Godswill Akpabio—a major powerbroker in national politics and a son of the soil.
“We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength—alive and bold. We’re doing this in Akwa Ibom’s best interest,” the governor said, subtly addressing critics who may view the move as opportunistic or desperate.
He thanked the PDP for the role it played in his political rise, describing his departure not as a betrayal, but as a necessary evolution.
The defection was anything but quiet. Top APC leaders flooded into Uyo in a show of force and celebration. Among them:
- Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State
- Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State
- Dapo Abiodun (Ogun),
- Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi),
- Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo),
- Bassey Otu (Cross River),
- And Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, whose presence raised eyebrows given his PDP roots.
The governors described Eno’s move as bold, timely, and reflective of a deeper political awakening sweeping through the South-South.
The PDP, already grappling with internal fractures and the wave of defections nationwide, faces a new challenge in Akwa Ibom—a state long considered one of its safest strongholds. With Eno’s exit, the party’s grassroots machinery in the state may begin to splinter.
Analysts suggest this could be part of a broader realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, where regional loyalty and federal access are becoming decisive campaign tools.
Umo Eno’s defection is more than just another headline—it’s a signal that Nigeria’s political center of gravity is shifting. What remains to be seen is how the people of Akwa Ibom will receive this move: as a betrayal of legacy, or a bold step into the future.
One thing is clear: 2027 just got a lot more interesting.
🛑 Stay with us for updates as reactions pour in and political tension brews beneath the surface.
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