In a bold statement addressing swirling rumours, former Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien has firmly denied defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This follows Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno’s recent switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a press statement personally by him on 9 June, the elder statesman clarified that his presence at the governor’s defection event was an act of solidarity as an indigene of the state, not an endorsement of the APC.
‘I have not defected from any party to another’, Essien asserted, emphasising his role as a neutral elder statesman since retiring from active politics in 2014.
He underscored his commitment to promoting peace and unity in Akwa Ibom, stating, ‘My attendance was a demonstration of support for the governor, who has shown a rare level of maturity and inclusiveness in governance’.
Essien acknowledged Governor Eno’s defection as a personal decision driven by the PDP’s internal crises and the strategic need to align with the APC-led federal government for Akwa Ibom’s benefit.
‘The governor has taken the right decision to secure his next election on a relatively stable platform’, Essien noted, citing the PDP’s ‘self-inflicted debacle’ and lack of internal democracy.
He also praised Eno’s prior support for APC leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a move to foster stability.
However, Essien criticised the governor’s push to coerce state and national assembly members and local government chairmen to defect, calling it a contradiction to Eno’s inclusive governance.
‘These elected officers have independent mandates and should be free to decide’, he said.
He also expressed disappointment in Akpabio’s failure to reciprocate Eno’s goodwill, noting that APC appointments and empowerment programs have largely excluded PDP members and neutral stakeholders.
Essien urged political actors to prioritise peace and respect differing convictions to safeguard Akwa Ibom’s stability.
‘As an elder statesman, my priority remains the unity, peace, and development of Akwa Ibom State,” he concluded, appealing for dignity and mutual respect in managing political differences.
Eighty-one-year-old Essien is a respected Nigerian politician and elder statesman. A former House of Representatives member (1999–2007) and South-South Parliamentary Caucus leader, he served as Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development (2010–2012) under Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
A key figure in establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission, Essien has long advocated for anti-corruption, sustainable development, and peace in Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta. A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (B.Sc. Business Administration, 1972). He retired from active politics in 2014 but remains a vocal advocate for good governance.
