Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has been confirmed as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The announcement was made by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. His comment followed a visit by Governor Eno and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno, and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday. Governor Eno is the APC leader in his state,” Onanuga wrote.
Eno, who was elected under the PDP platform, had been rumored for weeks to be aligning with the APC. His latest visit to the Villa, accompanied by a key APC figure like Akpabio, appears to confirm both his defection and his new political standing.
The move is seen as a strategic gain for the APC in Akwa Ibom, a state historically dominated by the PDP. With Governor Eno now officially recognized as the APC leader in the state, political analysts expect a realignment of forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Neither the APC nor Governor Eno has issued an official statement regarding the defection, but the presidency’s acknowledgment appears to seal the development.
