The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has confirmed his intention to part ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing persistent internal leadership disputes and his wish to openly support President Bola Tinubu without being accused of anti-party conduct.
In a widely circulated video, Eno explained that the deepening leadership issues within the PDP played a major role in his decision. According to him, remaining in a party environment where it’s difficult to commend President Tinubu’s efforts without backlash was no longer sustainable.
Naturenex reports that the governor drew a comparison between himself and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — known for his boldness and willingness to challenge the party hierarchy. Eno admitted he lacks Wike’s kind of political audacity.
He stated, “It’s no more news that I’m leaving the party. If you don’t know that by now then I don’t know what else you know.”
The governor went further, expressing his frustrations over the recurring crises within the PDP, especially at the national level. He pointed out that despite his commitment to the party, it would be unwise to remain in a system plagued by uncertainties.
“As a PDP person, I love the PDP and want to stay in the PDP but clearly I don’t have a road map that I would be guaranteed a smooth sail in the elections, not because we won’t win – in this state today, with the work that we have done – even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election because we have worked very hard.”
He voiced his concern about the disunity within the party’s leadership and its impact on election processes.
“But we know that the national level our party is not coming together, every day we have issues, if you take your form and serve it to INEC and then you ran all the elections and won and then you lose because the wrong person signed your forms – you lose everything – I’m not going to be stupid to stay doing that.”
Eno stressed that while he holds no grudges against the PDP, he believes the current political climate in Nigeria lacks clear party ideologies, making it difficult for genuine progress.
“I love my party and at this stage, we are running like there is no party. The only agenda we run in our state is the arise agenda. No party in this country has clear ideological differences, I challenge anybody to a debate to show me the ideological differences of parties in this country.”
He added, “This is not the Americans that have the Democrats that have their ideologies. I want someone in Nigeria to tell me why this is where you are. The agenda we are pursuing is the arise agenda and again I support this president. I know very well that this president did not create this situation that we are in.”
Speaking about his preference for honesty and simplicity in politics, he remarked, “I don’t know how to mince words, I can’t be in the PDP today and supporting a president of another party, it will be clearly in violation of party guidelines, I don’t know how to clip-flop. So if I’m supporting the president let me go to where I can state the things he has done, I don’t want to practice anti-party.”
He concluded by acknowledging his limitations compared to Wike’s combative style.
“I don’t have the kind of strength Wike has who will confront anybody, I’m a very simple man by nature, I just say it the way I’m convinced to say but that does not mean that I have nothing against our party.”
