In a politically charged event on Saturday, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), receiving a warm reception at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. The rally, marked by chants of “On your mandate we shall stand,” saw Eno leading the crowd in a show of allegiance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, formally presented the APC flag to Governor Eno, assuring him that his move to the ruling party would not go unrewarded. Shettima emphasized national unity over political divisions, telling Eno, “Your decision to come to the APC is one you will never regret. No one will question your place here. The party is your home. You will not be humiliated, will not be frustrated.”
The APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, praised the governor’s decision to leave what he termed “national isolation” under the PDP and align with the ruling party. He highlighted that this strategic move would ease the flow of federal projects into Akwa Ibom and help foster national integration.
Ganduje also applauded Eno’s performance in office, crediting his effective governance to a solid working relationship with his predecessor, Emmanuel Udom.
Adding to the momentum, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared that Eno’s defection was not just a political switch but a significant movement. “After Governor Eno, Rivers State will tumble, then Bayelsa will join. Come 2027, the South South would go one way—vote President Tinubu,” Akpabio predicted.
In his address, Governor Eno acknowledged the boldness of the move, stating, “We have taken a risk by moving to the center to gain federal attention, particularly for long-standing projects like the Ibom Deepsea Port and other critical federal interventions.”
The event drew a large crowd of party faithful and was attended by several high-ranking APC governors and political figures, including those from Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Imo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Kebbi, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Kwara, and Gombe States.
Governor Eno’s defection is seen as a significant win for the APC in the South-South region and could signal a shift in the region’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
