Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Eno, speaking at the banquet hall, Government House, Uyo, said he had to join the APC to support President Bola Tinubu to continue with the reforms he had started.
The governor said that he did not want to speak from both sides of his mouth and had to come out to join the progressives formally to avoid anti party activities.
Eno said that he had done wide consultations with critical stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project to explain and inform them on his movement.
“Earlier this morning, I submitted a formal letter of resignation from the PDP to the ward Chairman; same copy has been sent to both the state chairman and the national chairman,” he said.
The governor thanked the PDP for the support and love and for working with him in the past two years of running the affairs of Akwa Ibom.
He said he had taken his decision after due consultation with all critical stakeholders across the length and breadth of the state for the past three months.
“I believe no one that has ever moved or changed party has ever consulted the way I have done.
“I did that because of the respect I have for all of you, stakeholders in project Akwa Ibom. I did that knowing that each and everyone of you needed to be consulted and informed.
“I needed to explain why I am moving, and at this point, that consultation culminated into meeting all the critical stakeholders in PDP last night in this hall, where I took time to explain to you why we must move.
“We must be able to interpret the time and flow with the time and not run against the tide.
“Having completed the rounds of my consultation, as your servant that you have elected to serve you, I therefore have decided to progressively move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
‘Today, I have made the bold declaration to join that train,” Eno said.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Udeme Otong, in his goodwill message, said he and the 25 members of the House of Assembly would move with the governor.
Sen. Ekong Sampson, representing Akwa Ibom South in the National Assembly, in his goodwill message, also promised to move with the governor.
Eno was received into APC by the Akwa Ibom party chairman, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, who commended the governor for his action.
Ntukekpo said that the governor’s action was for the interest of all Akwa Ibom people to transform the state beyond party lines.
In his remarks, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who is also the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, thanked all those who joined to move with the governor voluntarily.
He assured the governor and Akwa Ibom people that APC would support the state, stressing that the governor would not regret the decision taken to move.
“I want to assure you that you will not regret this decision. The decision to join APC will be supported, and collectively, we will deliver dividends of democracy to not just Akwa Ibom people but all Nigerians,” he said.
Among dignitaries present at the event were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and Bassey Otu of Cross River.
