The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, alongside Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, arrived at the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo on Thursday evening, fueling speculation about Governor Umo Eno’s imminent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.
According to Daily Sun, the two governors were received by Governor Eno ahead of his expected official declaration on Friday.
A senior aide to Governor Eno, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the visit, referencing a circulating video of Governor Uzodimma’s arrival.
“Yes, I have seen the video of Uzodimma as he arrived Government House last night,” the aide said. “We are suspecting the governor will pronounce his defection from PDP to APC today. We are watching developments.”
Governor Eno had previously hinted at a possible political shift during a Town Square meeting in Ikot last Thursday, where he stated his intention to “progressively move to the centre to align the state with national politics.” However, his remarks were met with strong opposition from the crowd, with attendees loudly chanting, “No! No! No!” in disapproval.
The development has sparked intense political discussions in Akwa Ibom, a state traditionally dominated by the PDP. If Governor Eno defects, it would mark a significant realignment in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As of now, no official statement has been released by Governor Eno or the APC regarding the speculated defection.