Governor Umo Eno’s audacious movement from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a platform that got him elected in 2023, to the All Progressives Congress(APC) has finally culminated in his formal reception into the party at a ceremony held at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The reception showed that Eno has made bold his determination to join the APC, the ruling party and align Akwa Ibom State with the party at the centre to support the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at economic revival and development.
Though his decision has been met with mixed reactions with opinions sharply divided over the necessity or otherwise, he has hinged his defection on the overall interest of the state and the need for the quick realization of the Ibom deep seaport in the state, which he said had been on the drawing board for years.
The Ibom Deep seaport with a natural draught in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom state is part of the Ibom Industry City project comprising other facilities intended to ensure the transformation of Akwa Ibom State. But as a gigantic project, it has been realized that the state government alone cannot bring about its actualisation given the provisions of the country’s constitution which vests port development exclusively on the federal government.
Read also: Former allies scream ‘betrayal’, predict crisis as Umo Eno defects to APC
At the core of his defection speech during his grand reception into the APC, Eno hinged his defection to the APC on the Ibom deep sea project, adding that it is only on that basis that his defection would be justified.
“On the 6th of June, 2025, I made a progressive movement, to align the state, with the centre, so we will arise with renewed hope, for our state and our people. On that day, i had stated that my movement was predicated on the principles of enlightened state interest, and the need to support our president to finish the bold audacious economic reforms that he has instituted which today are beginning to bear sustainable dividends.
“I want to state here unequivocally that strategic decisions are based on evolving realities, which demands that the future and the collective interest of our state and people should be taken above all other considerations.
“Let me reassure all the people that regardless of my political alignment, I will remain a governor for all the people, as we continue to progressively implement the Arise Agenda, which is our social contract with the people.
“We are not afraid to join the APC, for we know that with the APC, we will realize our deep seaport, and that is our plea. For over 30 years, Akwa Ibom State has struggled to have a deep seaport. Today, we are reassured that the federal government will help us to realise our deep seaport.
“Akwa Ibom has the longest drought at 19 metres deep, we have struggled as a state, and I believe we have struggled enough and I believe that our president, who is a man of his words, will honour us, even if it is one terminal, this movement would have been justified. Akwa Ibom people look with hope onto the President, that this movement will be the beginning of a new dawn for Akwa Ibom State in terms of infrastructure, and projects that would make us to be seen as having taken a good decision. We have taken a risk and every risk also has a reward,” he had said.
The plea for the realization of the deep seaport as the key reason for his defection appears to sit well with many indigenes of the state including Godswill Akpabio, president of the Senate, who has thrown his weight behind the request, saying that the President being a man with listening ears would likely give a good consideration to the request.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, said Eno would not be deceived and pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to listen to the request over the deep seaport project.
According to him, Eno is coming to add value to the progressive family and expressed delight that the South South zone of the country was almost being controlled by the APC, maintaining that both Rivers and Bayelsa state would soon be part of the progressives family.
Other speakers at the grand reception including Kashim Shettima, the Vice President who represented President Tinubu , and Umar Ganduje extolled the achievements of the party and how it remains the vehicle that would bring unity and progress to the country.
The reception of Governor Umo Eno into the APC has brought to an end months of speculations, political anxiety and intrigues. Whether his defection will result in the construction of the Ibom Deep Seaport will be known in years to come.
