Nearly half a year after switching allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno’s portraits and campaign materials continue to decorate the headquarters of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Uyo.
According to Gossip News Now , Governor Eno officially joined the APC on June 6, 2025, following his resignation from the PDP in mid-October. Yet, reports from Leadership indicate that his presence is still strongly felt at the party’s expansive state secretariat.
Investigations show that armed police personnel remain deployed at the PDP secretariat to prevent clashes between opposing factions within the party.
A senior party official, speaking to Leadership on condition of anonymity, stated that the police were stationed there after a faction led by Osagiefo Igwatt Umoren tried to forcibly seize control of the secretariat from the legitimately elected chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan.
“The officers have stayed since the factional PDP Exco, led by Osagiefo Umoren, attempted what can only be described as a civilian coup to remove the elected chairman and officials,” the source explained.
Once a stronghold symbolizing PDP’s authority in Akwa Ibom, the state secretariat has since become a flashpoint for internal disputes following Governor Eno’s defection.
Tensions reportedly escalated when former chairman Elder Akpan and other PDP executives hosted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who was in the state at Governor Eno’s invitation for the commissioning of the Ika–Azumini Road project.
After that engagement, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) moved to dissolve the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and appointed Osagiefo Umoren as the new chairman.
However, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, immediately repudiated the decision, asserting that the NWC had not convened any formal meeting to authorize such action.
Akpan commented, “We have reliable information confirming that the NWC did not hold any official session to make this decision.
“The National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has issued a statement rejecting these claims and affirming that no formal meeting took place to approve the dissolution of our State Executive Council.”
