Governor Umo Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has polarised Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and the state chapter of PDP.

Many stakeholders of PDP in the state said the move was not in the best interest of the state, even as some members of the cabinet expressed their readiness to stonewall the expected mass defection to APC, stressing “it’s not betrayal, but His Excellency’s defection decision is very unpopular.”

However, while some of the commissioners confided in The Guardian on their plans to stay back in PDP, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, Dr Ini Emeobong, resigned his appointment without much ado.

In his letter of resignation, Emeobong, who was at one time the spokesperson of PDP in the state, noted that despite his closeness to the governor, his long aversion to APC makes him unwilling to join the federal ruling party.
He, however, noted that “this decision does not affect my personal relationship with the Governor, who calls me his brother and reposed great confidence in me by saddling me with two very important ministries- Information and Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port).”

Describing his exit from the State Executive Council as another bend, Emeobong assured that he would do his utmost best to sustain his tremendous respect for the Governor Eno, even out of EXCO.

The former commissioner pointed out that looking back at what he had been able to do during his stint in politics and public service gives him great satisfaction, stressing that he was leaving the ultimate judgment to history and posterity.

Part of the letter read: “Today, I have tendered my resignation to the governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign.

“While I cannot question or fault the governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in politics with principles and my long standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors.

“This decision does not affect my personal relationship with the Governor, who calls me his brother and reposed great confidence in me by saddling me with two very important ministries, Information and Special Duties & Ibom Deep Sea Port).”

Recall that Governor Eno had enjoined his appointees to be ready to join him in crossing over to the ruling party, warning that whoever was not interested or willing to defect should put in his resignation from the state cabinet.

As speculations about his intended defection swirled, the governor kept everybody guessing even as The Guardian learnt that the Akwa Ibom chief executive was using back channels to convince his immediate predecessor and benefactor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel, to see his reasons for jumping ship.

However, Friday, 6 June 2025, the governor assembled some APC chieftains while President Bola Tinubu was in Lagos, to officially announce his entry into the ruling party, explaining that the decision was to connect Akwa Ibom to the centre and mainstream of national politics.

Prominent among the dignitaries that witnessed Eno’s defection to APC were the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his counterparts from Delta, Edo, and Cross Rivers States, as well as wife of the President of Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, among others.