Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Eno also expressed his admiration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership as a key factor in his move to the APC.

Eno said the decision followed “three months of wide consultation” with critical stakeholders across the state.

The Cable and NTA News confirmed this in their publication on Friday, June 6.

“For some time now, the political space, particularly in this state and the nation in general, has been awash with the news of my likely movement from the PDP, the platform that has provided the levers and ladder of my political ascendancy to the position of governor of this state,” Eno said.

“This discussion has elicited various areas of analysis in the process. Today, I am here to answer to some of those nagging questions. Like the Dalai Lama had said, ‘we should always be open to change, but not to let go of our shared values’.”

Eno said he has submitted a formal resignation letter to the PDP at the ward level, with copies also delivered to the party’s state and national chairmen.

“Earlier this morning, I submitted a formal letter of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ward chairman. Same copy has been sent to both the state chairman as well as the national chairman,” Eno said.

“I want to thank the Peoples Democratic Party for their support, for their love and for working with me this past two years in the affairs of running the state of Akwa Ibom across party lines, but this is a defining moment.”

Oborevwori, Okowa collapse PDP structure into APC

This move follows earlier defections by key figures, including Delta state governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, further indicating the growing discontent within the PDP.