Fresh After Delta Governor’s Exit, Umo Eno Finalizes APC Defection as Tinubu, Akpabio Prepare Uyo Takeover
In a swift and dramatic turn of political events, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is reportedly finalizing his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), just hours after the confirmed defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the ruling party. The Delta governor’s exit was officially announced earlier today by his Press Secretary, triggering ripples across the southern political landscape and accelerating what many are calling the “PDP Exodus.”
Reliable sources within the APC and the presidency have confirmed that the stage is now set for a high-profile political rally in Uyo next month, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio will officially welcome Governor Umo Eno into the APC.
This development marks a watershed moment for the APC’s aggressive South-South expansion plan and further weakens the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a region once considered its fortress.
Delta Defection Lights the Fuse
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection from the PDP to the APC was confirmed today by his Press Secretary, sending political shockwaves through the nation. The move, widely speculated in recent weeks, has now ignited a wave of similar defections — with Akwa Ibom’s Governor Eno appearing next in line.
Sources close to the presidency disclosed that this sequence of defections is part of a broader strategy spearheaded by Senate President Akpabio to consolidate APC power in the South-South. Insiders say the rapid moves are meant to catch the opposition off guard and gain significant political ground before the 2027 general elections.
Umo Eno’s Decision: Power, Policy, and Pressure
According to confidential sources speaking with The Marshal, Governor Eno’s defection has been months in the making and is largely influenced by strategic assurances of political protection, access to federal support, and a secured second-term ticket.
“Akpabio has assured him that the APC will back his re-election in 2027,” one source stated. “And with Tinubu’s economic reforms gaining ground, Eno believes the APC offers a more stable political future.”
Beyond policy and promises, there is also an undercurrent of political fear. Analysts point to the increasing vulnerability of opposition governors in the face of federal influence and a history of state-level political upsets when they decline to align with the ruling party at the center.
PDP Crisis and Atiku’s Shadow
Another driving factor behind the unfolding defections is the internal crisis rocking the PDP. The refusal of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside and support a southern candidate in 2027 has reportedly reignited old tribal and regional tensions within the party.
Multiple sources claim that Atiku’s unwavering presidential ambition is pushing key southern leaders to seek political refuge elsewhere. “The party is fractured,” a PDP insider admitted. “Southern leaders are tired of playing second fiddle. Umo Eno is acting before it’s too late.”
Uyo Set for APC Mega Rally
Preparations are now underway for a landmark APC rally in Uyo, set for next month. The event will not only serve as the official unveiling of Governor Eno’s new party affiliation but also as a strategic declaration of APC’s rising dominance in the region.
“This is bigger than one defection,” said an APC source. “Delta has fallen. Akwa Ibom is next. Rivers might follow. The PDP has lost control of the southern narrative.”
A New Political Order Emerging
The back-to-back defections of two sitting governors within the same geopolitical zone signal a dramatic shift in Nigeria’s political equilibrium. For the APC, it is a validation of its growing influence and strategic capacity to reshape power dynamics nationwide. For the PDP, it is a clarion call to rebuild, reform, or risk collapse ahead of 2027.
As Uyo braces for President Tinubu and Akpabio’s arrival, all eyes are on Governor Umo Eno—whose next move could redefine the political future of Akwa Ibom and reverberate across Nigeria’s political terrain.
