Baseless and Laughable – Shehu Sani Rips Into Gov Eno’s APC Defection Justification”

A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has criticized Governor Umo Eno over his stated reasons for defecting from the party.

According to earlier reports, the Akwa Ibom State Governor announced his decision to leave the PDP, citing concerns about the party’s ability to secure his electoral future. While expressing affection for the PDP, Eno claimed that the party could not guarantee a smooth path to re-election.

“I love the PDP; I want to remain in the PDP, but honestly, I see no clear roadmap that assures a seamless election journey—not because we can’t win, but due to internal uncertainties,” he said.

Responding in a statement on Saturday, Sani—former spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in 2019—dismissed Eno’s reasoning as unfounded.

He pointed out that Eno, who is part of the planning team for the PDP’s upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, should be fully aware that the party’s internal leadership issues are being addressed.

“What makes Governor Eno’s excuse particularly questionable is that he has been directly involved in organizing the NEC meeting scheduled for May 27, 2025, and the National Convention in August, which is set to hold in Kano. His claim that unresolved leadership matters, such as the tussle over the National Secretary position, could jeopardize his electoral chances, is both misleading and self-serving,” Sani stated.

He emphasized that the PDP’s National Convention is the legitimate avenue for resolving internal disputes under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Suggesting that a properly constituted National Working Committee (NWC) might lead to litigation capable of nullifying election outcomes is, in his view, purely speculative.

Sani further suggested that deeper political calculations may be behind Eno’s defection—specifically, the legal troubles facing former Governor Udom Emmanuel.

“It’s no coincidence that Eno made this move shortly after reports surfaced of Udom Emmanuel being summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of mismanaging over ₦70 billion in state funds. Like Delta’s former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whose successor has remained loyal, Eno’s defection appears aimed at shielding Udom’s legacy and possibly protecting him from legal or political backlash,” he said.

He also pointed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s lingering grievances against Udom Emmanuel as another factor potentially shaping the political environment. According to Sani, Akpabio may have used his federal influence to pressure Udom through Eno, leading to the defection.

Sani added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 political strategy may also be at play.

“Tinubu’s agenda in the South-South—particularly in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta—is clear. He’s seeking to weaken opposition strongholds, align key stakeholders, and tap into local political and financial resources ahead of the next election. By winning over influential defectors, he hopes to tilt the balance in his favor,” Sani noted.

However, he warned that Eno’s defection could backfire, given the strong PDP loyalty in Akwa Ibom.

“Akwa Ibom has consistently stood with the PDP. Even Akpabio, the state’s most powerful political figure, failed to break that loyalty. If he couldn’t, Governor Eno—who lacks Akpabio’s grassroots network—may find his defection politically disastrous,” Sani concluded.