Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has issued a clear ultimatum to members of his cabinet: defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign.
During a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, a video of which was shared by Channels TV, Governor Eno confirmed his planned defection and insisted that only loyalists willing to follow him politically would remain in his administration.
“It’s no more news that I’m moving party. If you don’t know that by now, I don’t know what else you know,” Eno stated firmly.
He warned that political appointees who choose to stay in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be ready to vacate their positions once he formally switches allegiance.
“You are free, absolutely free, not to join me, but you won’t be in my state executive council,” the governor said. “You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party… I won’t beg you to come.”
Eno attributed his decision to ongoing internal crises within the PDP, expressing concern over the party’s inability to guarantee a smooth electoral process.
“I love the PDP, I want to stay in the PDP, but clearly, I don’t have a road map to guarantee that I’ll be able to have a smooth sail in the elections,” he said. “We know that at the national level, our party is not coming together.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the PDP, the governor maintained confidence in his administration’s popularity, claiming, “Even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election. There’s no doubt about it.”
Governor Eno’s defection marks a significant political shift in Akwa Ibom State, potentially reshaping the local political landscape ahead of future elections.
