Amid rising political tension and shifting allegiances, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has ignited speculation about a possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), likening his current party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to a faulty aircraft unfit for a 2027 political journey.
Speaking on Tuesday at a Town Square meeting in Ikot Akpankuk for the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, the governor drew a pointed analogy: “If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault that won’t enable it to fly, won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?”
While not explicitly declaring his departure from the PDP, Eno’s remarks have stirred widespread discussion and anticipation.
He, however, urged Akwa Ibom citizens to keep supporting his administration as it delivers on campaign promises.
Responding, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba dismissed the governor’s comments as speculative, reaffirming that Eno remains within the party fold.
He stressed that recent defections, such as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s move to the APC, do not mirror the electorate’s sentiments.
He added: “It does not necessarily reflect the position of the electorate.” Ologunagba warned against creating a one-party state and urged citizens to protect democratic plurality.
He also cautioned President Bola Tinubu not to assume that defections guarantee electoral victory in 2027.
Former PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan echoed these sentiments, asserting on Arise Television that the ruling APC itself is on the verge of internal crisis.
He pointed to growing dissatisfaction among blocs that formed the APC, especially the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
“It is the PDP bell that is ringing now, and everybody is talking about mass defection. I can assure you that very soon, it’s going to start with the APC,” he said.
“Even as you speak today, if you have your ears to the ground in the All Progressives Congress, you’re already aware that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)… is in tatters, and that is the truth.”
He warned of an impending implosion and urged observers to pay attention to the CPC’s agitation and internal rifts.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor condemned the speculation of Eno’s defection, describing it as “very, very unfortunate.”
He insisted the governor have moral duty to remain in the party that has nurtured his political career for over two decades.
“When you assume that people possess integrity, class, and substance, it is deeply disappointing to discover they are, in fact, merely small men in oversized clothes and big shoes,” Osadolor said.
He urged Eno to focus on advancing reforms such as BVAS and iREV to ensure electoral transparency rather than defecting out of fear of being “rigged out.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Senate President Godswill Akpabio suggest that Eno’s potential defection is generating excitement in APC circles.
According to insiders, the move fits into a broader plan dubbed the “Lagos-Calabar” strategy to bring South-South states into APC control ahead of the party’s congresses in August.
“As we speak, only Bayelsa State is yet to join the moving train. But I can tell you that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Lokpobiri, is working hard,” a source said.
However, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka rejected claims of any official directive to dominate the region, calling them baseless.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, reacting to his 2023 running mate Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the APC, maintained a calm stance.
“Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar bears no grudges; he has said that, and he means it,” said his media aide Paul Ibe.
“As a democrat, he subscribes to the universality and constitutionality of the freedom of association.”
Ibe reiterated that Atiku remains committed to the PDP and has no plans to jump ship.
Yet not all voices within the PDP are aligned.
Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro faulted Atiku for failing to unite the party post-2023.
Speaking on Channels Television, Moro said: “Given his ambition to contest once more, I expected Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to have started from day one after the 2023 election to galvanise the PDP.”
Olisa Ifeajika, executive assistant to the Delta governor, clarified that Okowa never expressed regret over running with Atiku.
“In that (television) interview, there was no time when Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa said he regretted being Vice Presidential candidate,” he said.
He added that Okowa’s defection was informed by a realization that “PDP was already a sinking boat, a shadow of itself. The umbrella is torn, and it no longer covers anybody anymore.”
Meanwhile, PDP chieftain Dele Momodu argued that only a formidable Northern candidate can effectively challenge President Tinubu in 2027.
“Any Southerner who thinks they can challenge Tinubu is likely wasting their time,” he said on Arise TV.
Momodu underscored the importance of strategic coalition-building, suggesting figures like Rabiu Kwankwaso as key to mounting an effective opposition.
In a related development, Delta Governor Oborevwori has confirmed that former Governor James Ibori will be officially welcomed into the APC, despite his informal ties with the party in recent years.
