Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has strongly suggested a potential defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, citing the need to align the state with the political center for broader development gains.
Speaking during a town hall meeting held in the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency on Wednesday, the governor told constituents that the time had come for a strategic political shift.
“We are progressively moving forward, linking Akwa Ibom to the center. And I know you are going with us. Are you going with us, so we can connect to the center?” Eno asked the gathering.
He explained that the decision followed a wide range of consultations across the state. “We thank you for your support. I have 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,” he added.
Encouraging the people to trust the leadership direction, Eno said, “Do not be afraid. Believe in us. Believe in President Bola Tinubu because the future is bright. We are already a minority state in Nigeria. If we come again and start breaking ourselves into pieces, we become the minority of the minorities and cannot get anything.”
Governor Eno, who has consistently spoken in support of President Bola Tinubu, has previously declared that Tinubu will remain in office until 2031, indicating confidence in his administration’s stability and longevity.
In April, the governor made headlines when he hinted that the PDP may no longer be viable to help him achieve future political goals, suggesting his intent to seek a platform that offers stronger national alignment.
With 2027 drawing nearer, Governor Umo Eno’s statements have further intensified speculation about his impending defection to the APC, a move that could significantly reshape the political dynamics in Akwa Ibom State.
