By Ghazali Ibrahim 
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has signaled a potential defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), amid deepening internal crises within the PDP and a growing wave of defections by high-profile politicians.
Speaking in Ibibio at a Town Square meeting of the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency held at QIC Central School, Ikot Akpankuk, the governor used an aviation idea to suggest his openness to switching political allegiance.
Addressing the audience, Eno compared the PDP to a grounded aircraft, implying that he might board the more viable option i.e APC if the political need arises.
“You are about to board a flight to Lagos from Uyo, and you see Air Peace and Ibom Air. Ibom Air develops faults while trying to take off… would you cancel your flight because you don’t want to use Air Peace? No!” the governor declared.
He continued, “Board a flight, disregard the name of the plane. Go to Lagos if you have business you want to do. When Ibom Air is fixed… you can fly with them.”
His statement was widely interpreted as a metaphor for potentially joining the APC if the PDP’s troubles persist.
The PDP, which has governed Akwa Ibom since 1999, is currently embroiled in a fierce leadership battle and legal disputes, leading to uncertainty over the party’s future in the state and nationally.
A source close to the state’s political inner circle told PREMIUM TIMES that Governor Eno’s defection is “imminent,” citing fears over the legality of his potential 2027 re-election nomination due to the party’s divided structure.
“Imagine if a secretary of one faction signed his second-term nomination form and the next day a court declared that faction illegal that means his nomination is not valid,” the source explained.
Eno’s comments follow the high-profile defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his political allies, including his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC last week.
The switch came months after both Okowa and former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel were questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption allegations.
Governor Eno, who has dismissed the allegations against Emmanuel, warned that he, too, may be targeted after leaving office, highlighting the mounting pressure faced by current and former PDP officeholders.
