Umo Eno APC defection criticised by PDP group in Akwa Ibom, calling it a grave miscalculation and urging the governor to return to his political roots
Umo Eno APC defection has sparked strong condemnation from a prominent advocacy group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, which described the governor’s move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a grave miscalculation—bleak, unsustainable, and rooted in expediency rather than principle.”
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In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, Dr Tom Fredfish, chairman of the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, urged Governor Umo Eno to “retrace his steps” and return to what the group called his “natural and comfortable political home”.
“We urge Governor Umo Eno to retrace his steps and return to the Peoples Democratic Party while there is still room for redemption,” the group appealed, adding that governance should be grounded in “selfless service, vision, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people.”
The Umo Eno APC defection, according to the group, signals a departure from those ideals.
It accused the governor of prioritising political self-preservation over public service, warning that his political alignment with the APC risked alienating him from the people who had entrusted him with leadership.
The statement went further to assert that Eno was now “caught among strange allies” who neither shared his vision nor truly believed in his leadership.
“The truth remains that the APC is not, and cannot be, his natural political home,” it declared.
The group also criticised Eno’s recent claim of controlling all political structures in the state, branding the remark as “unbecoming of a leader” and an unfortunate display of desperation rather than direction.
“Such an utterance is highly regrettable and paints the governor as one more desperate to consolidate political power than to deliver on the mandate of good governance,” the statement read.
The Umo Eno APC defection comes at a time when many in Akwa Ibom are calling for leadership that is more responsive and attuned to the socio-economic realities facing citizens.
Instead, the group argued, the governor appears focused on “political grandstanding”.
“It is a matter of public record that the entire political structure of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State was openly handed over to Governor Umo Eno by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,” the group stated.
“This, therefore, begs the question: What other structure is the governor struggling for, and against whom?”
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The statement concluded by calling on the governor to abandon “reckless posturing” and embrace responsible governance that prioritises the needs of the people over personal political ambition.
