Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, for his bold defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a show of courage and loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
The endorsement came just hours after Mr Eno formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during a high-profile event at the Government House in Uyo on Friday. Present at the ceremony were several APC governors including Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Bassey Otu of Cross River.
Mr Akpabio was represented by his wife, Unoma Akpabio, who delivered a stirring goodwill message on his behalf.
“You shall fear no one. Because you have a lion in the person of President Bola Tinubu and you have a lion in the person of the Senate President, who do you fear? Nobody. Fear nobody,” she declared.
“God will protect you and your family. Don’t bother about what they would write. If it’s about what they would write, our own has filled the Geepee tanks up to 20, but we are not deterred,” she added.
Later in the day, a video surfaced on social media showing Mr Eno arriving at Mr Akpabio’s residence at Shelter Afrique Estate in Uyo. The video, posted by former Akpabio aide, Ata Ikiddeh, captured a warm embrace between both men.
“The Senate President welcoming the newest member of the APC and his brother governors,” Mr Ikiddeh captioned the video.
“APC!” both Mr Eno and Mr Akpabio chanted before locking hands in a symbolic show of unity.
This dramatic political shift signals a new chapter for Akwa Ibom State, historically a stronghold of the PDP since the return of civilian rule in 1999. Mr Eno’s defection marks the first time a sitting PDP governor in the state has crossed over to the ruling party, effectively placing the PDP in opposition in Akwa Ibom for the first time in 26 years.
Mr Akpabio, who served as Akwa Ibom governor from 2007 to 2015 under the PDP before joining the APC in the Senate, has now reunited politically with Mr Eno. The two, once on opposite ends during the 2023 gubernatorial race, have since aligned closely, with Mr Eno even endorsing President Tinubu and Mr Akpabio for re-election in 2027.
In a Facebook post shortly after Friday’s ceremony, the Senate President applauded Mr Eno’s defection and the mass movement of the state’s political structure into the APC.
“It is with utmost joy that I received our governor, Pastor Umo Eno; his deputy, Akon Eyakenyi; All Progressives Congress governors led by the chairman of the forum, Hope Uzodimma; and other stakeholders of our party at my residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after the historic defection of my brother, Governor Eno,” he wrote.
“Members of the state executive council, federal and state lawmakers, as well as council chairmen have also joined the progressives’ family.
Thank you, Mr Governor, for having the interest of our people at heart. Congratulations, and welcome to the fold.”
However, not everyone within the administration is moving with the tide. The state’s Commissioner for Information and Special Duties, Ini Ememobong, tendered his resignation on the same day.
“Behold another bend. Today, I have tendered my resignation to the governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign,” Mr Ememobong announced on Facebook.
“While I cannot question or fault the governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in politics with principles and my long-standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors.”
