Nigerian state governors and prominent political figures arrived in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday evening in anticipation of Governor Umo Eno’s expected defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday.
Among those present at the Akwa Ibom Government House in Uyo were His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, the Governor of Cross River State, and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who also chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum. An influx of other leading APC members is anticipated to welcome the governor into the ruling party.
This development has created a tense atmosphere within Akwa Ibom’s political circle, with many stakeholders from the PDP opting for silence. Sources close to the party indicate that the leadership was caught off guard by the rapid and certain nature of the defection.
Key figures within the PDP, including party elders, former officeholders, and political appointees, have refrained from offering public comments, suggesting feelings of internal discontent and hidden frustration.
Governor Eno’s move occurs amid rising tensions in his political circle. This transition is believed to have disrupted the PDP’s plans for the 2027 elections, potentially complicating longstanding agreements on zoning and power rotation in the state.
Additionally, many local politicians have not received this shift well, feeling betrayed by the abrupt change.
Eno’s departure will further diminish the PDP’s influence nationwide, leaving the party controlling only ten states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara.
