Growing Panic in PDP as Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno Hints at Defection
LAGOS The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is teetering on the edge of political disintegration as fresh waves of internal instability and defection fears shake the party’s core. The latest tremor comes from Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, whose cryptic yet stinging remarks on Tuesday strongly signaled a possible exit from the party.
Governor Eno, speaking at a town hall meeting in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency, compared the PDP to a “faulty aircraft” a damning metaphor that not only hinted at his loss of confidence in the party but also deepened fears of a looming political shift in the South-South region.
“If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault… wouldn’t you board the next available plane?” the governor asked rhetorically, implying that remaining in a broken system would be political suicide.
Fear and Uncertainty Ripple Through PDP
Eno’s comments come at a time when the PDP is already hemorrhaging members. Just days earlier, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move many insiders say triggered a domino effect now threatening to sweep Akwa Ibom into the same vortex.
Sources within the PDP confirm that Eno’s statements have caused panic at both state and national levels, with party leaders scrambling to hold emergency consultations to prevent a total collapse of confidence in its leadership structure.
PDP Leaders in Desperation Mode
Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, openly condemned the governor’s remarks, describing them as a betrayal of loyalty and conscience.
“This is a man who has benefited from the PDP for more than 25 years. If he defects now, it reveals a deeper rot that the party’s moral foundation is crumbling,” Osadolor lamented.
“When people we looked up to reveal themselves to be smaller than the positions they hold, the very soul of our democratic values is shaken.”
He accused Eno of cowardice, asserting that rather than champion electoral reform from within, he is contemplating defection in a bid for political survival ahead of the 2027 elections.
Internal Collapse or Strategic Rebirth?
Despite attempts to downplay the crisis, PDP’s internal contradictions are becoming harder to ignore. South-South Zonal Caretaker Chairman, Chief Emma Ogidi, offered a tepid defense, merely stating that Governor Eno “is entitled to his opinion,” a remark which some analysts interpret as evidence of a party leadership out of touch with the urgency of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State PDP Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, claimed ignorance of any defection plans but could not convincingly deny the implications of the governor’s analogy.
“He made an analogy. It depends on how you interpret it,” Akpan said, a response that revealed more uncertainty than clarity.
APC Poised for Political Takeover
Confirming the political undercurrents, APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, boldly stated that Governor Eno would soon join the APC, painting a picture of a leader who has already made up his mind.
“Rather than stay in PDP and engage in anti-party activities, Eno has chosen to align openly with the APC. His declaration of support for President Tinubu in 2027 is just the beginning,” Bashiru affirmed.
The APC sees this potential defection not just as a win, but as a strategic blow to PDP’s power base in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
PDP’s Strategic Dilemma: Reform or Ruin
Former presidential candidate, Chief Dele Momodu, warned that the PDP’s refusal to restructure and redefine its identity could lead to its political extinction.
“We are watching a once-mighty party tear itself apart. If the PDP doesn’t reinvent itself, it will go the way of the UPN, NPN, and AD parties now lost to history,” he said on Arise TV.
Momodu stressed that only a strong Northern candidate can realistically challenge Tinubu in 2027, implying that the PDP’s current trajectory lacks both vision and cohesion.
False Optimism or Delusional Confidence?
Former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, tried to paint a picture of resilience, insisting the party remains formidable despite the mounting defections.
“We are focused on rebuilding and reclaiming power in 2027,” he said, downplaying what many see as a clear sign of the party’s unraveling.
But Baraje’s remarks do little to erase the perception of a party deeply fractured, lacking unity of purpose, and struggling to maintain relevance amid a fast-shifting political landscape.
Akwa Ibom on Edge
Back in Akwa Ibom, the governor’s cryptic warning has stirred anxiety among political stakeholders and citizens alike. There is growing fear that a shift in political allegiance could destabilize governance, stall developmental projects, and plunge the state into a prolonged period of political realignment.
Many worry that the governor’s rhetoric about “boarding another plane” may signify a broader collapse of political ideology in the state where governance is increasingly reduced to power play and party loyalty is sacrificed on the altar of ambition.
Bottom Line:
The PDP is bleeding from within. Governor Umo Eno’s thinly-veiled warning is more than political posturing it is a wake-up call. If the party fails to resolve its internal crisis, reaffirm its ideological foundation, and inspire confidence among its ranks, it may find itself grounded before the 2027 elections, just like the faulty aircraft in Eno’s analogy.
Reference
Growing Panic in PDP as Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno Hints at Defection