APC Will be Your Home — VP Shettima Assures Gov Umo Eno As He Defects
Governor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom State officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a grand reception held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday. Key APC figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and President Bola Tinubu’s entourage, were present to welcome him .
During the ceremony, Vice President Shettima assured Governor Eno that the APC would be his “home,” and that he’d face no humiliation within the party . Senate President Akpabio praised the Governor’s decision as “political maturity” and forecasted a “domino effect” throughout the South-South, with Rivers and Bayelsa governors potentially following suit .
Governor Eno stated that aligning with the Federal Government was essential to push forward major initiatives like the Ibom Deep Seaport and other infrastructural projects. He emphasized, “We are joining the APC from a position of strength to support the bold economic reforms of President Tinubu” .
From the PDP, reactions were mixed. While some voices described his defection as a setback, others like Dr. Michael Enyong asserted that the PDP in Akwa Ibom remains resilient and intact .
APC insiders view this event as part of a broader realignment in the South-South, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s political map ahead of the 2027 elections .
Governor Eno’s emphasis on federal backing for infrastructural projects echoes a recurring theme in APC’s centralised development strategy .
Governor Eno’s defection marks a pivotal moment in Nigerian politics, one that solidifies APC’s influence in the once-PDP stronghold of Akwa Ibom and sets the tone for deeper federal-state collaboration.
Whether this move will translate into swift delivery of major infrastructure remains to be seen, but the political conversation of the South-South’s position ahead of the next election cycle has begun.
