Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has likened the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a faulty aircraft, sparking fresh speculation about his political future beyond 2027 and the possibility of defection from the party.
Speaking on Tuesday during a constituency outreach meeting in Ikot Akpankuk, Ukanafun Local Government Area, Eno questioned the viability of the PDP as a platform for his continued political journey. He used the metaphor of an airline with technical issues to illustrate his growing doubts.
“If you wanted to travel with Ibom Airline, and on the verge of taking off, it developed a fault that won’t enable it to fly, won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?” he asked the crowd at the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency town hall.
The analogy, widely interpreted as a thinly veiled hint at a possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), comes amid increasing turbulence within the PDP, including high-profile defections such as that of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the ruling party.
While Governor Eno expressed concerns over the PDP’s internal disunity and direction, he urged his supporters to remain focused on the development goals of his administration. He emphasized that his immediate priority is delivering on campaign promises rather than engaging in partisan politics.
As part of the outreach, the governor distributed various empowerment packages to over 400 constituents. These included grants for 154 traders, support for 116 farmers, N5 million each to four individuals for business development, and equipment support for 131 beneficiaries.
Eno advised recipients to invest the funds wisely and avoid risky ventures such as Ponzi schemes. “We need to meet with the people from time to time. Governance doesn’t end at elections,” he said.
He noted that the engagement exercise had so far reached four of the state’s ten federal constituencies and pledged to complete all visits in time to incorporate constituents’ feedback into the 2026 state budget.
