PDP Faces Pressure to Challenge Governor Eno’s Defection to APC

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained an uneasy silence following the defection of Governor Pastor Umo Eno to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 6.

Governor Eno, who rose to power under the PDP — a party that held sway in the state for 25 consecutive years — stunned many when he switched allegiance to the APC. He cited his admiration for President Bola Tinubu, the need to align Akwa Ibom with the federal government, and ongoing crises within the PDP at the national level as his reasons for the move.

Despite this political upheaval, prominent PDP stakeholders in the state, including Eno’s political mentor and former governor Udom Emmanuel, have neither followed suit nor publicly supported the governor’s defection. Instead, they have reaffirmed their loyalty to the PDP.

The PDP state chairman, Aniekan Akpan, declined to comment when contacted but assured journalists that the party would speak “in due time.” Sources suggest the party is quietly reorganizing with an eye on producing a formidable candidate from Uyo Senatorial District for the 2027 gubernatorial elections.

Meanwhile, a pro-PDP group, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPAJ), has demanded that the party take legal action against Eno’s defection. In a statement released by its chairman, Dr. Tom FredFish, PAPAJ argued that Governor Eno violated the constitution by abandoning the party that sponsored his candidacy.

Dr. FredFish criticized Eno’s justification for the defection, describing it as shallow and politically opportunistic. “The governor merely expressed admiration for President Tinubu, failing to provide any substantial reason for leaving the PDP. His speech suggests a prioritization of Tinubu’s reelection over the mandate given to him by Akwa Ibom voters under the PDP,” he stated.

Citing Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution, PAPAJ argued that only political parties — not individual candidates — can sponsor electoral candidates. Therefore, they contend, Eno cannot carry the PDP mandate into another party.

Drawing a vivid analogy, the group likened the situation to “a passenger traveling safely on Ibom Air, then choosing to pay Air Peace for the service.” They emphasized that the people of Akwa Ibom elected Eno based on the PDP’s platform, manifesto, and principles — not the APC’s.

The group further referenced legal precedents, including the Hon. Satty Gogwim v. Hon. Zainab Abdulmalik case, which reinforced that only the nominating political party has the legal right to hold elected office.

PAPAJ issued an ultimatum: if the PDP fails to act within four days, the group will initiate legal proceedings to reclaim what it describes as “the stolen mandate of the PDP.”

While acknowledging that Eno has the constitutional right to associate with any political party, PAPAJ insists he must first relinquish the office he won under the PDP before joining another party.

“Why didn’t he run under the APC in the first place if he believed in the party?” Dr. FredFish queried. “This kind of political somersault threatens Nigeria’s democracy. The judiciary must act to safeguard the constitution and restore public confidence.”

The controversy now hangs heavily over Akwa Ibom’s political future, as citizens and observers await the PDP’s next move.