FROM GABRIEL BASSEY, UYO

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders and supporters of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, have rejected his planned move to defect to the All-Progressives Congress (APC)

The governor, who was greeted with a strong opposition, with a resounding and dramatic response of “no, no,” when he announced to his crowd of supporters at a Town Hall meeting in Ikot Abasi, his intention to defect from the PDP to the APC, insisted that it is time to move.

Recall that the governor had earlier threatened his political aid and commissioners who may not defect with to resign from his government with immediate effect, stressing that he was not going back on his decision to abandon the PODP and embrace the ruling APC

Governor Eno said he has consulted extensively with stakeholders and leaders of thought in the state and was convinced that it is time to align the state with the ruling party at the federal level.

He said, “We’re progressively moving forward, linking Akwa Ibom to the centre. And I know you’re going with us. Are you going with us, so we can connect to the centre?”

The governor’s position was however greeted with a thunderous “No, No” by the large crown at the meeting

He emphasised that his decision was centred on the need for Akwa Ibom to “belong and be counted” in national politics, as well as to support President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We thank you for your support. I’ve gone around to consult… And so, we have done enough consultation. The time has come that we will move. And we will go to where God is leading us,” the governor said.

“Do not be afraid. Believe in us. Believe in President Bola Tinubu because the future is bright. We are already a minority state in Nigeria. If we come again and start breaking ourselves into pieces, we become a minority of the minorities and cannot get anything,” he told the crowd.