Pomp, Celebration As Gov Eno Is Received Into APC, Named Party Leader In A’Ibom

UYO

In a politically defining moment for Akwa Ibom, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has been formally received into the All Progressives Congress, APC, and named leader of the party in the state.
At a grand reception at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, weekend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima (GCON), alongside the national chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, led other party chieftains to welcome the governor into the party.
Addressing a stadium filled to capacity, Eno recalled his formal announcement on June 6, 2025, to join the APC, describing it as a strategic and principled move in the enlightened interest of Akwa Ibom. 
He declared that aligning the state with the centre would enhance development and unlock long-standing federal collaborations, saying, “I remain governor for all Akwa Ibomites regardless of political affiliation, and I am committed to continuing the implementation of the ARISE Agenda. This decision is not about personal ambition; it’s about the overall interest of our people”.
The governor, who led a massive delegation of the state’s political class, including members of the State House of Assembly, National Assembly, State Executive Council, local government chairmen, aides and thousands of supporters, said he was optimistic that his tenure would culminate in tangible achievements, including the long-anticipated realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
The event was described by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as more than a defection but a “reunification of Akwa Ibom with Nigeria.” 
Akpabio lauded Eno’s leadership, integrity, and performance, affirming that “Akwa Ibom is now fully aligned with the progressive movement….This is not a defection. This is a movement. Come 2027, the South-South will vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
In his remarks, national chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, officially welcomed the new entrants and declared Eno as leader of the APC in Akwa Ibom.
Vice President Shettima, delivering President Tinubu’s goodwill message, praised Eno’s foresight and courage, saying his entry into the APC brings not just numbers but value and leadership.
APC leaders, including the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and governor of Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and chairman of Progressive Governor’s Forum and governor of Imo, Hope Uzodinma, hailed Eno’s decision as a political masterstroke that reconnects Akwa Ibom to national progress.
The Akwa Ibom APC chairman, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo,  described the event as a historic milestone, celebrating the governor’s development strides and the dawn of a new era for the party in the State.