Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Friday, June 6, announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He made the declaration during a formal ceremony at the Government House in Uyo, which was attended by prominent APC figures from across the country.
In his remarks, Governor Eno stated, “After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC.”
He stressed that his decision was not borne out of desperation but strategic planning, adding, “We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength. We’re bringing value to Akwa Ibom State. We’ve come into the APC with a ministry of reconciliation.”
Over the years, several sitting governors have made similar moves, leaving the PDP for the APC while still in office. Below is a list of eight such governors whose defections made national headlines:
- Pastor Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State)
Governor Eno’s defection marks a significant political shift in Akwa Ibom, a state historically dominated by the PDP. His move is expected to reshape the political landscape ahead of future elections. - Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State)
Oborevwori stunned political observers when he left the PDP for the APC in a dramatic move, ending over two decades of PDP dominance in Delta State. - Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State)
Umahi defected to the APC in November 2020 during his second term. He cited the PDP’s neglect of the Southeast and praised the APC’s infrastructure drive under former President Muhammadu Buhari. - Ben Ayade (Cross River State)
In May 2021, Governor Ayade switched parties, explaining that his decision was aimed at securing more federal support for Cross River’s development projects. - Bello Matawalle (Zamfara State)
Matawalle crossed over to the APC in June 2021 amidst political instability in Zamfara. His move was widely viewed as a tactic to consolidate political power in the state. - Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State)
Tambuwal has had a fluid political journey, initially defecting to the APC ahead of the 2015 elections, returning to the PDP in 2018, and later being linked to a possible return to the APC during his governorship. - Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto State)
Wamakko joined the APC in 2014 while serving as Governor. He was among the early defectors whose departure from the PDP significantly contributed to APC’s success in the 2015 general elections. - Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara State)
Ahmed, who governed Kwara State from 2011 to 2019, defected to the APC in 2014 alongside Bukola Saraki in what became known as the “political tsunami” in Kwara. Though he later returned to the PDP, his initial defection was instrumental in shifting power.
These defections underscore the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of Nigerian politics, where party loyalty frequently yields to strategic political realignment.
