Three commissioners in Akwa Ibom State have resigned from Governor Umo Eno’s cabinet following his high-profile defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move shaking the foundations of one of Nigeria’s longest-standing PDP strongholds.
According to Daily Trust, the departing commissioners include Prof. Eno Ibanga – Commissioner for Works and Fire Service and Emem Bob – Commissioner for Finance with Comrade Ini Ememobong – Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port who had resigned earlier.
Their resignations came swiftly after Governor Eno’s formal defection to the APC was made public at a political event in Uyo.
The governor had earlier given an unambiguous directive during a State Executive Council meeting, urging appointees unwilling to follow him into the APC to “respectfully” vacate their positions.
In his public resignation letter, Comrade Ini Ememobong emphasized that while he holds deep respect for the governor, his personal convictions and ideological opposition to the APC made it impossible for him to continue in the administration.
“It is not a pursuit of personal glory,” he stated. “It’s about staying true to a long-held belief system. I served with loyalty, but I must now step aside in good conscience.”
Ememobong, a respected figure within the PDP, acknowledged the trust Governor Eno had placed in him by assigning him to two strategic ministries but reiterated that his political allegiance remained unchanged.
At the defection announcement in Uyo, Governor Umo Eno described the switch as a strategic, not impulsive, decision.
He disclosed that months of consultations preceded the move and assured citizens that his commitment to service remains unwavering.
“This change is about aligning Akwa Ibom with the center,” the governor said. “It’s a decision borne out of strategy, not desperation.”
Governor Eno said he had formally notified both state and national PDP leadership of his departure, thanking the party for its support during his administration.
He added that the move was intended to maximize developmental opportunities and strengthen the state’s connection with the federal government.
With Governor Eno’s defection, the APC now controls four of the six states in the South-South geopolitical zone, leaving only Rivers and Bayelsa under PDP leadership.
The resignations have sparked speculation about a wider cabinet reshuffle and the future of PDP loyalists in the state.
Analysts view the wave of resignations as a test of political integrity in an era where party loyalty is often traded for political survival.
Whether more officials will follow suit or cling to power under a different banner remains to be seen.
