Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has urged all commissioners and political appointees in his administration to either join him in switching allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign from their roles.
In a video posted by Channels TV on Friday, the governor addressed this issue during a State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday.
Eno announced his decision to defect to the APC and emphasized that only those willing to accompany him would retain their positions in his government.
“It’s already known that I’m changing parties. If you’re not aware of this yet, I’m not sure what else you might know,” Eno remarked.
He highlighted the importance of loyalty to him as governor, stating that anyone unwilling to politically align with him should be ready to resign on the day he publicly declares his party switch.
“I’ve heard some of you mention that you won’t follow me; you are completely free to decide against it, but you will no longer be part of my state executive council.
“So, be prepared to resign when I make my announcement, as your loyalty should lie with me since you’re an appointee.
“You cannot serve in my cabinet while acting against the party; this isn’t a threat, it’s simply the reality. I won’t plead with you to stay, and you shouldn’t expect that,” he asserted.
Eno cited ongoing challenges within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a key reason for his departure, expressing his lack of confidence in the party’s ability to facilitate a smooth electoral process.
He expressed, “I have affection for the PDP and would prefer to remain, but I lack a clear path to ensure a successful election process, not due to doubts about our ability to win.
“Given the extensive work we’ve all done, we would likely win even if we ran without a party affiliation. There’s no question about our efforts, but the national party is currently fragmented.
“Each day brings new issues, and if improper signatures on documents sent to INEC lead to a loss, everything we’ve worked for could be at risk.”
