A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Jeremiah Akpan-Udoh, has strongly criticized Governor Umo Eno’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as both insensitive and insulting to the PDP and the people of the state.
Governor Eno, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election under the PDP platform, announced his defection to the APC on June 6, 2025. The decision has triggered political unrest within the PDP, particularly among its loyalists in the state.
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Speaking at a press conference held in Uyo on Monday, Akpan-Udoh said the governor’s decision was a betrayal of the trust that the PDP and its supporters had placed in him. He accused Eno of abandoning the platform that brought him into office and attempting to undermine the party’s foundation.
“I’m here to speak on behalf of Akwa Ibom State and to represent the voices of the people at the grassroots,” Akpan-Udoh stated. “Governor Umo Eno’s defection is insensitive and disrespectful—not only to the party under which he was elected but also to the good people of Akwa Ibom State who voted for the PDP.”
He also criticized what he described as the governor’s attempt to maintain influence over both parties, labeling it as an act of political double standards. According to him, the governor had previously declared that even if he decamped to the APC, he would still retain control over PDP structures to prevent others from using the party for its intended purpose.
“This kind of duplicity is damaging,” Akpan-Udoh said. “It has caused disunity and confusion within the party and left many loyal members politically stranded.”
In his statement, Akpan-Udoh urged Governor Eno to focus solely on his new political alignment with the APC and to relinquish any control or influence over the PDP in Akwa Ibom State. He also demanded that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP dissolve the current State Working Committee (SWC) immediately and install a Caretaker Committee to realign the party and ensure stability moving forward.
Furthermore, Akpan-Udoh called on all elected officials who were voted in on the PDP platform but have since decamped to the APC to voluntarily vacate their positions. He emphasized that it was the PDP, not the individual candidates, that was presented on the ballot paper during the last elections.
“The faces of the governor, deputy governor, members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and even National Assembly members were not on the ballot,” he said. “What was on the ballot was the PDP. That is what the people voted for.”
To reinforce his point, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) to declare the seats of defected lawmakers vacant and to conduct fresh bye-elections to fill the positions.
Akpan-Udoh also urged opposition parties in the state, including the Young Progressives Party (YPP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and others, to collaborate with the PDP in order to resist any perceived attempts to impose a one-party system in Akwa Ibom. He warned that such a political structure would be detrimental to democracy and would suppress diverse political participation.
The defection of Governor Eno to the APC has intensified political tensions in the state, with analysts warning of possible ripple effects on upcoming elections and party cohesion. While supporters of the governor have defended the move as strategic and in the interest of broader national alignment, critics, such as Akpan-Udoh, maintain that it represents a breach of trust and a direct affront to the political will of the electorate.
As political reactions continue to unfold, the PDP’s national leadership is yet to release an official statement regarding the call for dissolution of the Akwa Ibom SWC or the appointment of a Caretaker Committee. However, many within the party are closely watching developments to determine the broader implications for both the state and the party’s national structure.
Akpan-Udoh’s remarks underscore the growing concern among PDP members in Akwa Ibom who feel that the party’s dominance in the state is now under serious threat. They argue that swift internal restructuring and legal measures are necessary to preserve the party’s integrity and relevance.
For now, the political landscape in Akwa Ibom remains volatile, with party loyalists calling for firm action and accountability in the face of what they perceive as political betrayal and an urgent need to restore order within the PDP.
