Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has officially defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was confirmed on Friday, with several APC governors and chieftains in attendance, including Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, and Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State.
The event, which took place at the banquet hall of the Government House in Uyo, was reportedly planned to be a major occasion but was scaled down due to the Muslim Sallah holiday.
Other APC governors present included BabaJide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. Security around the Government House was tight, with a massive deployment of operatives from the DSS and police.
Persecondnews reports that stakeholders of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the PDP are reportedly divided over Governor Eno’s defection. Some PDP stakeholders, including former National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem, have expressed opposition to the governor’s move, hinting that the PDP will still present candidates for the 2027 election.
Enoidem, a key supporter of Governor Eno’s election in 2023, stated that the PDP would continue to thrive in the state despite the governor’s defection.
Before his defection, Governor Eno had hinted at his intention to join the APC, stating that “it’s time to move” and align Akwa Ibom State with the ruling party at the federal level.
More to follow…
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