Two senior members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have strongly condemned Governor Umo Eno’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling it illegal and disrespectful to the people who voted for him.
Governor Eno left the PDP last week, saying he could no longer stay in a party that was in crisis. He also said he wanted to openly support President Bola Tinubu.
Eno said, “I am not known to talk from both sides of my mouth. I’ve decided to join the train of the President to support him so I will not be accused of anti-party activities.”
But Dr. Tom Fredfish, a PDP chieftain and Chairman of PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, said Eno’s defection was illegal and should be challenged in court.
“The governor did not give any sensible reason why he left the PDP. His only reason was that he admires the President,” Fredfish said. “Akwa Ibom people didn’t vote for him to align with the President. They voted for him under PDP.”
Fredfish also accused the PDP leadership in Akwa Ibom of staying silent because they may be planning to follow the governor.
“Before you called me, I was planning a press release to ask the national chairman of PDP to take action and challenge the defection. It is illegal,” he said. “It’s like eating in one restaurant and going to pay in another. That is cheating,” he said.
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Another PDP leader, Prince Jeremiah Akpanudo, also condemned the defection. Speaking at a press conference in Uyo on Monday, he described the move as betrayal and called for serious action from the national party leadership.
“The defection is an act of insensitivity not only to the PDP that brought him to power, but also to the people of Akwa Ibom who voted for him,” Akpanudo said. “It is double standard. The governor once said if he joins APC, he would still hold on to PDP. That is not honest.”
He also called on the national leadership of the PDP to dissolve the Akwa Ibom State executive council of the party and declare vacant the seats of all elected officials who defected to the APC with Governor Eno.
Akpanudo said, “All those elected under PDP including the governor, deputy governor, senators, and lawmakers, should vacate their seats immediately. INEC and the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission should conduct fresh elections.”
He said he had started consulting with lawyers to begin legal action against the defectors. “We will go to court to question the legality of this defection,” he said.
He assured the people that PDP will remain strong in Akwa Ibom and will contest and win future elections.
“Come 2027, PDP will field candidates and the will of the people must prevail,” he said.