Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has officially announced his intention to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party's ongoing leadership crisis and his desire to openly support President Bola Tinubu's administration.
Speaking to a congregation in a video that has since gone viral, Governor Eno explained that his decision stems from the uncertainty within the PDP's national leadership and his inability to navigate the complex party politics like FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
"It's no more news that I'm leaving the party. If you don't know that by now then I don't know what else you know," Eno stated. "As a PDP person, I love the PDP and want to stay in the PDP but clearly I don't have a road map that would guarantee a smooth sail in the elections."
The governor expressed concerns about potential legal challenges that could arise from the party's internal disputes, particularly regarding election documentation. "If you take your form and serve it to INEC and then you ran all the elections and won and then you lose because the wrong person signed your forms – you lose everything – I'm not going to be stupid to stay doing that," he explained.
Governor Eno has consistently praised President Tinubu despite being in an opposition party, creating tension within PDP ranks. He acknowledged this contradiction in his address: "I can't be in the PDP today and supporting a president of another party, it will be clearly in violation of party guidelines. I don't know how to flip-flop. So if I'm supporting the president, let me go to where I can state the things he has done, I don't want to practice anti-party."
In a candid moment, Eno compared himself to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who has remained in the PDP despite openly supporting President Tinubu. "I don't have the kind of strength Wike has who will confront anybody. I'm a very simple man by nature, I just say it the way I'm convinced to say," the governor remarked.
While Governor Eno did not explicitly state which party he intends to join, his comments suggest he may be considering the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Reports indicate he has already instructed his appointees to follow him to his new political platform or resign from their positions.
The governor expressed confidence that his administration's performance would ensure electoral success regardless of party affiliation. "In this state today, with the work that we have done – even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election because we have worked very hard," he asserted.
This development adds to the ongoing realignment of political forces in Nigeria's South-South region, where the PDP has traditionally maintained strong support. Political analysts are watching closely to see how this defection might impact the party's fortunes in future elections.
