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Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom state, has formally announced his intention to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at the state executive council meeting on Thursday, Eno cited the internal wrangling in the party as reason for his decision.
In a video published by Channels Television, the Akwa Ibom governor said he loves the PDP, but expressed concerns over the current leadership crisis rocking the party.
“I love the PDP; I want to stay in the PDP, but clearly, I don’t have a roadmap to guarantee that I’ll be able to have a smooth sail in the elections — not because we won’t win elections,” he said.
“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, our party is not coming together.”
Eno claimed the PDP leadership crisis at the national level can lead to election defeat on “technical grounds”.
“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,” he added.
“On technical grounds, because the wrong person signed your form, you lose everything.”
Over the past few months, Eno has been hinting at his plans to defect from the PDP and join the ruling All Progressives Congress.
‘DEFECT OR RESIGN’
Speaking further, the governor asked his commissioners and other political appointees to defect with him to APC or resign their positions.
The Akwa Ibom governor said political appointees who want to remain in the PDP are free to do so — but not as members of his cabinet.
He said any political appointee who will not join him in the APC would be engaging in anti-party affairs.
“It is no longer news that I’m leaving the party,” he said.
“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.
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“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 fully to me.
“You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party (affairs), It is not possible, it’s not a threat, it is what it is. I won’t beg you to come, you should normally not even expect it.”
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Eno added that he would not consider any of his political appointees who refuse to defect with him to the APC as his “enemies”.