…As many politicians in Akwa Ibom adopt wait and see posture
Palpable tension and uncertainty hover over Akwa Ibom political climate as penultimate and immediate past Governors, Victor Attah and Udom Emmanuel keep mum over Governor Umo Eno’s recent defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Eno had on, June 6, defected to the ruling political party and was ceremoniously received by the national leadership of the party at the Godswill Akpabio’s International stadium and proclaimed the leader of the APC in Akwa Ibom on June 21, 2025 to the disappointment of his predecessor.
However, the final whistle for his political divorce from his godfather, Udom Emmanuel was blown, when 24, out of the 26 members of the state House of Assembly, during a plenary, Tuesday, 26 June, bid goodbye to the People’s Democratic Party.
As a saying goes that a battle cannot finish a battalion, the exodus to the progressive land has not really emptied the PDP into the APC as the member, representing Onna state Constituency, Sunday Johnny and his Etinan counterpart, Ekpo Ufot, in what pundits describe as a litmus test of loyalty, defied political convenience and mouth -watering inducements, and retained their membership in the battered PDP.
The member representing Onna state Constituency, Johnny, is believed to a die-hard supporter of the immediate ex-governor, Udom, who incidentally hails from Onna and is believed to have influenced his journey to the hallowed chambers and his Etinan counterpart, Ufot clinching the PDP’s House of Assembly ticket in his constituency in 2023 was influenced by the ex-governor, hence their hard decision to swim and sink with Udom.
Much to the chagrin of observers, the defection of the member representing Oruk Anam state constituency, Sampson Idiong, has raised rhetorical questions about the place of conscience and loyalty and in a way, validated the pejorative of politics as a filthy game
As a biological brother to the wife of the former Governor, a relationship that solely facilitated his trip to the House of Assembly and political limelight, impeccable sources hinted that the lawmaker had earlier resisted that carnivorous political urge to join the bandwagon.
Reports have it that when he consulted his inlaw and political benefactor, he was advised to maintain the status quo, but on a second thought about a second term, he crucified conscience on the slaughter slab for political convenience.
Superior arguments and strong statistics show that the price is good, but the climate is not bright as uncertainty still hangs in the air.
Akwaibom has been ruled by PDP since the advent of the current fourth republic in 1999, and considering the popularity the party enjoys across the state, there was no threat to Eno’s re-election in 2027, despite the crisis facing the party at the centre.
In recent weeks, there have been divergent views over Governor Eno’s defection to the ruling party at the center across Akwaibom State.
Many Akwaibomite think the governor acted for his selfish interest and are yet to come to term that APC is ruling the state.
Also, there are residents who are simply not bothered about what is happening politically in the state and Governor Eno’s defection to the APC, for them survival in a rather challenging economy is what matters.
Imabong Uya, a resident of the state capital, Uyo, said feeding his family amid the high cost-of-living is his immediate problem.
“I’m not bothered about our governor’s defection to APC, would that pay my children school fees, feed my family?” It is purely for his interest, who in PDP will drag the ticket with him?”, he asked.
This is just as concerned stakeholders have advised Governor Eno to be cautious.
The National Chairman, Network Advancement Program for Poverty, Disaster Risk Reduction, NAPPDRR and head of PDP’s Ward Leaders Forum, Emem Edoho said Governor Eno has made political miscalculation by defecting to the APC.
According to him, the APC as a political party has no good intention for Nigeria. He said the biting poverty, unemployment and alarming insecurity in the country are the indices that the ruling party is not serving the interest of the country.
‘‘There’s no light at the end of the tunnel. The governor has miscalculated. I don’t trust the APC. He may not even get the gubernatorial ticket when the chips are down’.
“The coalition should be the way out if they will drop personal interests. I urge Akwa Ibom people to see the coalition as the most credible alternative and solution to the present leadership failure”, he said.
Also speaking, the pioneer commissioner of health and a former governorship candidate on the platform of Social Democratic Party, Asukwo Ekanem described the governor’s defection as a bad omen for the state.
In his view, the state government has no workable development plan for Akwa Ibom.
” The way forward for the state would have been to revamp moribond industries like the biscuits industries, the falling standard of education, the dead ceramic industry in Itu, the forgotten steel plant in Eket, the Ibom Science park in Uyo, which has been swallowed by grass.
“Akwa Ibom has a fertile land for the production of cassava, plantain, banana. The elephant grass, which is the main feed of cow, would have been harnessed for cow farming and milk production, but the state has not even looked at those areas, instead the governor is defecting.
“To me, it’s leaving the object to fight the shadow. The governor’s defection is for political personal interest, not for development reasons.
However, there are also those who support Eno’s decision to join the APC, they noted that it was important and strategic that Akwaibom align with the central government for developmental projects to come to the state, especially since the Senate President is from the state.
A former chairman of Itu local government area and APC’s chieftain in Akwa Ibom, Uduak Udoh said the governor has taken a decision that is good for him and the state.
“The development will engender political stability and attract more development by linking the state to the national power grid.
“You can see for yourself the recent working relationship and political fraternity between the state and federal government. In my candid opinion as a critical stakeholder, it is a good omen for Akwa Ibom state”, Udoh said.
Furthermore, political analysts say it is important that the governor should be cautious, because the silent of key political leaders and stakeholders, could be conspiracy of silence and a possible union of the PDP’s structure with the Atiku Abubakar’s led coalition, which can be a dangerous threat to his fight for a second term.
Even though the entire state executive, except the erstwhile Information commissioner, Ini Ememobong, political appointees and others, had followed the governor like the disciples of Jesus, pundits believe the APC can hardly win elections in a state, where the PDP has held sway for decades.
“The scenario in Akwaibom is interesting and it would be fascinating to see how Akwaibomite would respond considering that PDP had ruled the state since 1999”, Temitope Musowo, political analyst said.
Speaking further, Musowo noted, “I think there is more to that defection, because the governor had no opposition within the PDP, he was nearly sure of winning in 2027 so why join APC?”.
“But he should watch it, I believe the leaders and people would not allow PDP to be dead and buried in that state in 2027”.
With governors, federal and state lawmakers, commissioners, SAs, Local Government Chairmen, Councillors, Supervisors, the PDP has maintained horizontal and vertical contacts and network with the grassroots.
They know what to tell the locals; where to tell them and when to tell them. They know them by faces and names, including their phone numbers.
However, observers say APC has always been an opposition party with a rebellious political mentality. In most cases, electoral materials and voters appreciations disappear on the way to the target destinations.
Based on decades of indoctrination, not many grassroots believe another party can win elections in Akwa Ibom, except the umbrella. To this effect, observers say that the governor and his team has more work to do, else, what befell Godswill Akpabio in 2019, may repeat itself in 2027.
Ahead of 2027, many political stakeholders in Akwaibom say there was the need for Governor Eno to engage the public and people at the grassroots on his decision to join the APC and what the party stands for.
For example, in 2019, many supporters of Godwill Akpabio, especially the locals, voted for the umbrella against the broom, which Akpabio had just defected to.
Apart from what analysts believe to be an executive gang-up against him, Akpabio took a lot for granted.
This ultimately ended his re-election bid to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
He did not carryout sufficient sensitization and debriefing on his supporters. This is why he lost gallantly, to the amazement of the state.
But the difference is clear, while Akpabio defected shortly before the 2019 election; Eno has defected early enough.
Analysts say, Eno should watch his back and be open to advice. He should know that the failures of many political leaders are caused by their political environments.
The change of political narratives in Akwa Ibom opens a new chapter in the history of the state.
“So, there is a crucial need for him to speak to our people; let them know why he left PDP, not many people here like APC, I know they think with money they can buy people.
“For me, I am with the coalition, let us see, 2027 is here,” Michael Umoh, Abak based politician said
Post a Comment