Akwa Ibom PDP Chair reacts on Umo Eno Defection Speculations
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Elder Aniekan Akpan, has dismissed rumours suggesting that the party is preparing to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Vanguard reports that, Akpan said he was not aware of any such plan within the party’s leadership and clarified that no formal decision or conclusion had been made on the matter.
“I am not aware of any concluded plans to [join] APC, so plans have not been concluded,” he said. “I’m not the one that made the statement. The governor made an analogy. Like you are interpreting it, somebody else may interpret it to mean something else.”
His comments follow a wave of speculation triggered by recent remarks made by the state governor, which some political observers had interpreted as a signal of possible defection.
Recall that at Ukanafun/Oruk Anam ARISE town hall meeting, Governor Umo Eno was quoted saying “Whether Ibom Air or Air Peace, board the flight ready to take you to your destination. Board the flight and forget the name of the airline. What Akwa Ibom people want is good governance, not the party’s name.”
The PDP has maintained control in Akwa Ibom since the return of democracy in 1999, and any shift in allegiance would mark a significant realignment in the state’s political landscape.
The governor has yet to make an official statement on the party’s position, and no further details have been provided by party officials.
Nevertheless, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, confirmed the move by the Akwa Ibom governor, saying he will join the APC soon.
