Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has triggered fresh speculation about his political future after casting doubt on the viability of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a platform for his post-2027 ambitions.
Speaking on Tuesday at a Town Square meeting in Ikot Akpankuk, Ukanafun Local Government Area, the governor compared the PDP to a grounded aircraft and hinted that he might consider a “different plane” to reach his political destination—an analogy widely interpreted as a signal toward a possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault that won’t enable it to fly, won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?” Eno asked a cheering crowd from the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency.
His comments come amid rising internal crsis and defections within the PDP, most notably that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC.
While he did not explicitly announce his departure, Eno’s comments have further increased conversations about a looming political realignment in Akwa Ibom.
Despite his concerns over the PDP’s direction, Governor Eno urged his supporters to remain focused on governance, noting that “service delivery remains our top priority.”
As part of the engagement, the governor distributed a wide range of empowerment packages to over 400 constituents, including grants for traders and farmers, equipment support, and substantial funding for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
A breakdown of the distribution revealed that 154 traders received grants, 116 farmers were supported, four individuals received N5 million each, and 131 beneficiaries got business equipment.
Urging prudent use of the support packages. We need to meet with the people from time to time. Governance doesn’t end at elections… We’re here to listen, to assess your needs, and to let you know what we’ve done and what we plan to do,” Eno said.
He added that the administration had so far completed outreach in four out of the state’s 10 federal constituencies and assured that all would be reached in time to incorporate their needs into the 2026 budget.
“We will review your requests and prioritize based on available resources. What we can’t do now will be considered in future budgets.
“This government belongs to the people—it is for you, with you, and by you.”
