Akwa Ibom Governor Eno Threatens Cabinet Members: 'Join Me To Defect To APC Or Resign From My Administration'

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has asked all members of his cabinet to either defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign from their positions.

The governor cited the unresolved internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as his reason for leaving.

The governor issued the directive during the State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, confirming weeks of speculation about his planned defection.

“It’s no more news that I’m moving from the party, if you don’t know that by now, I don’t know what else you know,” Governor Eno told the council members.

He stressed that appointees are not under obligation to join him in the APC but must vacate their offices if they choose to remain in the PDP.

“So, we want our commissioners and members of Excos, appointees; I am told that some of you are saying that you will not come, you are free, absolutely free not to join me, but you won’t be in my state executive council,” he said.

“So, you better just be prepared to resign the day I announce that I’m moving because you are an appointee and your loyalty is to me.

“You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party, it’s not a threat, it is what it is. I won’t beg you to come, you should normally not even expect it,” the governor added.

Governor Eno explained that his decision was influenced by the PDP’s failure to resolve its internal disputes at the national level, which he said could pose legal risks for candidates during elections.

“I love the PDP, I want to stay in the PDP but clearly, I don’t have a road map to guarantee that I’ll be able to have a smooth sail in the elections, not because we won’t win elections.

“In this state today, with the work that all of us have done, even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election.

“There’s no doubt about it. We’ve worked very hard, but we know that at the national level that our party is not coming together,” he said.

“Every day, secretary this and that, and so you take your form, they send it to INEC, and then you run all the elections, you perhaps win the elections and just on technical ground, because the wrong person signed your form, you lose everything,” Governor Eno warned.