Opposition Party is gaining ground with best brains, while the ruling party is getting the worst politicians– Okonkwo

… professional criminals” driven by self-interest rather than ideology

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a seismic shift rocking Nigeria’s political landscape, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a desire for a “smooth sail” in his 2027 re-election bid.

The announcement, made on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Government House in Uyo, has sparked intense debate, with political analyst and former Labour Party spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo sharply criticizing the move, stating, “The worst from the opposition are moving to the ruling party, and the best from the ruling party are moving to the opposition.”

Governor Eno, who had long signaled his intention to leave the PDP, justified his defection as a strategic move to align Akwa Ibom with the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu.

While I cannot fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn

“After three months of wide consultation with stakeholders across the state, I have decided to progressively move to the APC,” Eno declared, emphasizing the need to secure federal support for state development.

He expressed admiration for Tinubu’s leadership and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging Akwa Ibom residents to support their re-election in 2027 to ensure the state remains “connected to the center.”

However, the defection has not been without controversy. During a town hall meeting in Ikot Abasi, Eno faced a resounding “No!” from the crowd when he asked for their support to join the APC, highlighting significant grassroots resistance.

Despite this, Eno pressed forward, framing the move as being in the “enlightened state interest” to attract federal projects and resources.

The defection triggered immediate fallout, with three commissioners, including Dr. Ini Ememobong (Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport), resigning in protest.

15 out of 26 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly members, along with key PDP loyalists like former National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem, have refused to follow Eno to the APC

Ememobong, a prominent PDP figure, cited his “belief in politics with principles” and long-standing opposition to the APC as reasons for his exit. “While I cannot fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

Additionally, 15 out of 26 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly members, along with key PDP loyalists like former National Legal Adviser Emmanuel Enoidem, have refused to follow Eno to the APC, signaling a fractured political base.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a vocal critic of political defections, described Eno’s move as emblematic of a broader trend where “opportunistic” politicians abandon their principles for power.

Speaking on ARISEtv, Okonkwo, who himself left the Labour Party in February 2025, accused defectors to the APC of being “professional criminals” driven by self-interest rather than ideology.

He contrasted this with what he sees as principled defections, such as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s move from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), suggesting that “the best” from the ruling party are seeking new platforms to challenge the status quo.

Eno’s defection was met with fanfare from APC heavyweights, including Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), who attended the announcement in Uyo.

The PDP, already weakened by defections in Delta and Rivers States, now controls only 10 states nationwide

The APC’s National Working Committee hailed the move as a boost for the party’s influence in the South-South region, expressing confidence that it would accelerate Akwa Ibom’s development.

However, opposition voices, including former PDP governor Udom Emmanuel’s loyalists, have vowed to maintain a formidable opposition. The PDP, already weakened by defections in Delta and Rivers States, now controls only 10 states nationwide, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic pluralism.

Critics, including Okonkwo, argue that the APC’s aggressive recruitment of opposition figures risks creating a one-party state, a claim the APC denies, insisting that defections reflect voluntary support for Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”