Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has reportedly directed all commissioners and political appointees in his cabinet to either defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign from their positions.
The directive was reportedly issued during an ongoing State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Thursday, where the Governor openly confirmed his decision to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
According to Vanguard, sources present at the meeting said the Governor made it clear that his defection should come as no surprise to any of his appointees, stating.
One of the sources noted that the governor said, “Anybody who claims he is not aware of my intention to leave the PDP is still living in the 18th century.”
The source further said Eno explained that his decision to align with the APC was driven by his admiration for the leadership style of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that he wants to work more closely with the federal government.
The Governor issued a stern warning to his appointees, saying he has “nothing to negotiate” with anyone unwilling to follow his political direction.
“Apart from elected officials like House of Assembly members and Local Government Chairmen, I have nothing to negotiate with you,” Eno declared.
“Let me tell you, anybody who believes that when I leave the PDP, he will use the party structure to fight me is lying because I will still control the PDP structure,” the report stated.
As of the time of filing this report, the State Executive Council meeting was still in session, with further developments expected in the coming hours.
