Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, has indicated that he may consider leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.
During his address on Tuesday at the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency town square meeting at QIC Central School, Ikot Akpankuk, Eno drew a striking comparison, likening the PDP to a faulty aircraft.
“What Akwa Ibom people want is good governance, not the name of the party,” he stated. “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?
“Whether Ibom Air or Air Peace, board the flight that is ready to take you to your destination. Board the flight and forget the name of the airline,” he added.
These comments come amidst a growing trend of defections from the PDP, with Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, being the latest to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with his supporters.
Eno expressed concerns about the fragmentation of the PDP, warning that it risks coming to a standstill before the upcoming elections in 2027. He urged the people to remain steadfast in their support for his administration, emphasising their commitment to fulfilling campaign promises.
In addition, the governor distributed “empowerment packages” to over 400 beneficiaries, which included business grants, vehicles, and other support items.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP convened an emergency meeting to address the recent wave of defections that has unsettled the party.
Following the meeting, Umar Damagun, the acting national chairman of the PDP, announced that the party’s national legal adviser has been instructed to take appropriate action regarding the defection of Oborevwori and other members to the APC.
