By Chinelo Obogo and Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin

any unforeseen circumstance, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, may defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today. Daily Sun reliably gathered that as at last night, APC governors and stalwarts, especially those in the South South had concluded plans to travel enmasse to Akwa Ibom to receive the governor.

With the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to the APC and with Eno’s movement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be left with only 10 states – Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo , Plateau, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara.

Daily Sun had exclusively reported that the presidency and the APC have intensified pressure on governors of the PDP to defect. Reliable sources informed Daily Sun that some of the opposition governors are in a fix due to the crisis in the PDP which many of them fear would jeopardise their chances of getting a successful second term.  The pressure to defect comes as the PDP continues to grapple with the crises that have had legal consequences for it, in the past.

Sources further disclosed that PDP governors are concerned about the precedent set in Plateau State, where courts sacked PDP state assembly lawmakers and some National Assembly members due to unresolved internal party crises at the national level. The fear is that if the PDP’s crisis persists, any candidate nominated by the PDP, including governors seeking re-election, risks having their election nullified by the courts.

Daily Sun learned that Governor Eno would have long defected but that the major obstacle he faced is the resistance of his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, who maintains firm control over the PDP’s political structure in the state. The APC’s strategy appears focused on neutralising financially viable opposition states that could fund a presidential candidate in the 2027 elections. With Delta State already considered “out of the way,” securing Akwa Ibom would  weaken the opposition’s capacity to mount a credible presidential challenge.

“APC is trying to muzzle all the viable opposition states such that by the time election comes, no state would be able to fund any opposition presidential candidate. In Akwa Ibom, the only obstacle all along had been Udom Emmanuel,” the source said.

    Meanwhile, former Senate president and chairman of the PDP reconciliation Committee, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said some members of the party might still defect to the APC while politicians from other political parties may also join the main opposition party.

The former Kwara State governor told reporters in Ilorin, shortly after re-registering as PDP member that he was optimistic that the party would bounce back in 2027 at the state level.

“The only viable opposition party is PDP and yes, there are challenges and I have taken it upon myself to do my best. I am seeing responses from our colleagues who are also ready to settle our differences. We were able to do our NEC meeting, we have scheduled a meeting for end of this month, between now and then there will be a lot of leg work.

“Luckily for us we started early, we have two years more. We have time to know those that will stay and rebuild the party. Some might still go, and some might still join us.

“Like today, I received new members to the party at the state level. Once there is stability at the top, I’m sure we will begin to see a better future for PDP. And I thank Nigerians for being patient with the leaders of the party.

“I want to use this opportunity to reassure our members across the country that we are doing our best to rescue the situation of the party.We are confident that we will tackle the situation.We are committed to it.

“Because we are all committed to fledging democracy and fledging democracy means a vibrant opposition.We all have to make personal and group sacrifice for the interest of the country.”

On the ability of the party to stage a come back in the state come 2027, Saraki said that: “We are even more encouraged by the level enthusiasm that we are getting.People are coming out to register for the party, people are tired by the state of affairs in the state.New members are coming out to join the party.

“At the same time all our old members are very active.The members we have seen are very impressive.

“I think the factors of what people are going through in the state,the insecurity unemployment, hunger and lack of the presence of governance. So we are confident that the PDP will bounce back in 2027.

“People are coming out to be associated with PDP,they are ready to want people to know that they’re PDP members

“That also tells us at the grassroots that people are still in love with our party.Of course we are  having our challenges at national level.we are confident now that once we can sort ourselves out at the top or the leadership at the grassroots, everything will fall in place.”