Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Friday, announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said in Uyo, the state capital, that the decision followed ‘three months of wide consultation’ with critical stakeholders across the state.
Two days earlier during a town hall meeting in Ikot Abasi, when announced Eno his intention to defect from the PDP to the APC, there was a resounding opposition from the crowd.
On Friday, the governor said: ‘For some time now, the political space, particularly in this state and the nation in general, has been awash with the news of my likely movement from the PDP, the platform that has provided the levers and ladder of my political ascendancy to the position of governor of this state.
‘This discussion has elicited various areas of analysis in the process. Today, I am here to answer to some of those nagging questions. Like the Dalai Lama had said, ‘we should always be open to change, but not to let go of our shared values’.
Eno said he has submitted a formal resignation letter to the PDP at the ward level, with copies also delivered to the party’s state and national chairmen.
He said: ‘Earlier this morning, I submitted a formal letter of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ward chairman. Same copy has been sent to both the state chairman as well as the national chairman.
‘I want to thank the Peoples Democratic Party for their support, for their love and for working with me this past two years in the affairs of running the state of Akwa Ibom across party lines, but this is a defining moment’.
He explained that his decision followed extensive engagement with political leaders and party stakeholders, culminating in a meeting with top PDP figures on Thursday evening.
Eno further said: ‘I believe that no one has moved aggressively or has ever changed party in this state that has consulted as widely as I’ve done.
I did that because of the respect I have for all of you — as stakeholders in project Akwa Ibom. I did that knowing that each and every one of you needed to be consulted, to be informed.
I needed your counsel, I needed to explain why I am moving, and at this point, that consultation culminated into my meeting with all the critical stakeholders in the PDP last night in this hall, where I took time to explain to all of you the reason why we must move.
‘We’re progressively moving forward, linking Akwa Ibom to the center. And I know you’re going with us. Are you going with us, so we can connect to the centre’? Eno asked.
But his call was met with a thunderous ‘No’!, which overshadowed the handful of ‘Yes’ voices, creating a tense atmosphere in the crowded venue at the Ikot Abasi Local Government grounds.
