Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has finally departed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and resigned as the state leader to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying,
“I have decided to progressively move to the APC.”
He assured that his government had always been an inclusive one that would never change.
At an event held yesterday at the Government House Banquet Hall in Uyo, the governor, who wore the cap with an APC (Jagaban) inscription and that of the ARISE Agenda of the PDP, gave the impression he was only joining another vehicle to reach his preferred destination in 2027.
Former governor Udom Emmanuel; a former national legal adviser of the PDP, Emmanuel Enoidem, a staunch political adversary of Senator Godswill Akpabio, shunned the ceremony after unsuccessfully appealing to Eno not to quit.
Three commissioners, mostly former governor Emmanuel’s nominees including Prof. Eno Ibanga (works and fire service); Comrade Iniobong Ememobong (special duties and Ibom Deep Seaport) and Mr. Emem Almond Bob (finance), have tendered their resignation from the cabinet.
Other former governor Emmanuel’s allies who have refused to defect, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, included about 15 of the 26 House of Assembly lawmakers, while 11 others including the speaker, Elder Udeme Otong, joined the train of defectors.
Some local government chairmen loyal to former governor Emmanuel including Gideon Uwah of Etim Ekpo LGA, it was learnt, refused to follow Governor Eno to the APC
“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,” one of the cabinet members, Ememobong, stated in his resignation letter.
But the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by his wife, Ekaette Unoma; the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Hope Uzodima; the state APC chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo; Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and others assured Governor Eno that he has no cause to worry.
The Imo State governor who received Eno into the APC, lauded his move, assuring him that all rights and privileges of the party would be accorded him.
Ekaette Unoma, who spoke on behalf of her husband, Akpabio, assured Eno not to be mindful of those he could not persuade into the APC, assuring that the governor has President Bola Tinubu and her husband as his major pillars.
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