Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has formally assumed leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, a development he described as a power shift anchored on love, unity, and mutual sacrifice.
Announcing the development via a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the governor revealed that the baton of leadership was officially handed to him by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. The symbolic handover took place during the APC Stakeholders Meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Uyo.
Governor Eno reflected on the significance of the event, describing the moment as both emotional and symbolic. He clarified that the shift in leadership was not an attempt to seize control of the party structure, but rather a collaborative merger founded on mutual understanding and collective interests.
“I officially received the political structure of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State from our Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. It was an emotional and symbolic moment at the APC Stakeholders Meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo.
“This is not an acquisition; it is a merger that must be approached with love, unity, and understanding,” the governor stated. “We must all be prepared to make sacrifices for the greater good of Akwa Ibom.”
He further appealed to APC leaders across all levels, particularly those at the grassroots, to embrace the new direction with open hearts and minds.
He urged party stakeholders to work together in building a more cohesive and formidable APC in the state, emphasizing that unity would strengthen the party’s prospects.
However, the governor’s recent assertion of leadership and his pronouncement on party affairs have not been without controversy.
Earlier in the week, a coalition of concerned APC stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State voiced strong opposition to Governor Eno’s reported endorsement of the automatic return of incumbent National Assembly members as party candidates in forthcoming elections.
Operating under the platform of Concerned Members of the APC, the group submitted a strongly worded petition to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In the petition, they condemned the governor’s position, labeling it as undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a violation of the APC’s internal democratic principles.
The stakeholders, drawn from all 10 federal constituencies in the state, warned that the governor’s stance could foment internal discord, particularly between longstanding “legacy members” of the APC and recent defectors.
According to them, such a move risks marginalizing core loyalists who have painstakingly built and sustained the party’s political base over the years.
They further expressed concerns that this decision, if implemented, could fracture the party’s internal cohesion, potentially destabilizing the APC’s structure in Akwa Ibom and weakening its electoral prospects ahead of future contests.
In their petition, the aggrieved members specifically pointed out that the political foundation established by steadfast supporters of Senate President Godswill Akpabio — particularly those who remained with him through the formative and challenging years of the party — stands threatened by the governor’s approach to party leadership and candidate selection.
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