…As Ganduje declares Gov Eno APC leader in A/Ibom

From Isaac Job, Uyo.

President Bola Tinubu has assured Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and those who defected with him from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) that they would not be humiliated.

Speaking at the Godswill Akpabio’s International Stadium, Uyo during the reception ceremony for Governor Umo Eno after his defection to APC, President Tinubu said nobody would bring Eno down as he took the bold step to join APC as the third governor to embrace the party in South South.

Tinubu who was represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima further assured Eno not to panic as they rise and ride together in their political journey.

“President sent me to inform you that you will not be humiliated by anybody in APC. We will rise and ride together.

“Take APC as your own party and we would give you the necessary backup.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks at the reception ceremony said the defection of Eno means the reunification of Nigeria.

Akpabio said after Akwa Ibom State, APC will capture Rivers and Bayelsa states in few days to come and thanked Eno for taking the initiative against all odds in the state.

“This is a movement not a mere reception for a governor who had defected to our party. It is a reunification of Nigeria made possible by Governor Umo Eno. It is historic,” he said.

Akpabio disclosed that the South-South is not only the producer of Nigeria’s wealth but is always aligned with the national government.

“After here, Rivers State will tumble, then Bayelsa will follow. I have been at home in the past four days interacting with people and realized that Governor Umo Eno had consulted stakeholders in the state before joining APC.’’

He assured Eno of his re-election as governor in 2027as many indigenes of the state have followed him into APC.

He spoke further: “Don’t think that they will applaud you for coming to APC but don’t mind them. You are coming to a party that will not deceive you.

“Nigeria will not be a one-party state but we will not help anybody to build his broken party. Any party that breaks should remain broken. We are not interested.

“You chose partnership instead of partisanship. We insist vehemently that Akwa Ibom State should be given its place in the national equation. Akwa Ibom State is ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bola Tinubu. After 26 years of PDP reign in Akwa Ibom, we are building a new chapter devoid of hatred but cohesion for development.

Responding, Pastor Umo Eno recalled that he defected to APC on June 6, 2025 and made a bold step to join President Bola Tinubu in APC to rebuild Nigeria.

“We are not afraid to join APC because we know that with APC we will have Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom. I believe that our President Bola Tinubu will not disappoint us. This is because every risk has a reward.

“This movement and defection is anchored on our demand for Ibom Deepsea Ports. I am saying this for the whole world to know that this defection has a cause.”

Receiving Governor Umo Eno into APC, the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, declared Eno as the leader of APC in the state.

While handing over APC flag and broom as symbols of the party to Eno, Ganduje lauded him for understanding the difference between national isolation and national unity.

“In the administration of former President Buhari South South never had any progressive governor except Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River State who later joined us.

“Today our political agenda of renewed hope has widened in the southern region

Through this development, we can have a clear agenda for development for the South South.”