Akwa Ibom
Governor Umo Eno Forced My Defection To APC, Says Enoidem
Governor Umo Eno Forced My Defection To APC, Says Enoidem
Governor Umo Eno forced my defection to APC, says Enoidem. Ahead of the crucial general elections next year in Akwa Ibom State, one of the last bastions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally caved-in with the defection of the former national legal adviser to the party, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem.
Giving insight into his decision to dump the PDP which he had been a founding member since the return of democracy in 1999, Enoidem disclosed that intense pressure from Governor Umo Eno weakened his heart to change his mind.
Speaking at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s Shelter Afrique residence in Uyo during a late-night pre-defection meeting with stakeholders which dragged into the wee hours of Friday, Enoidem said the governor’s emotional appeal broke his hardline stance.
“Governor Umo Eno sent me a text message that gave me sleepless nights; he told me he is empty without me,” he recalled.
“I remember very well when he told me he was joining the APC; the governor did not rest. At every point he sees me, whether in church or at any event, he would tell me ‘my brother, I am very empty without you.’
“On January 9, the governor sent me a text message that kept me awake for three different days. For three different days I couldn’t sleep because of that particular text message.
“My reply was that I want to pray for three days; that he should wait for that three days to come. He later stormed my house with leaders of Akwa Ibom State that we used to work together for him.
“That night, it was impossible for me to say no to the governor. And that has given birth to this meeting today,” he stated.
At the meeting, Enoidem, a former PDP State Exco member, expressed happiness at being reunited with his former boss, Senator Akpabio, whom he served under in different ministries as commissioner between 2007 and 2015, when the senate president was the state governor.
At the defection proper held at Utu Etim Ekpo, headquarters of his Etim Ekpo local government, the elated Governor Eno, accompanied by the Senate President, members of the State Executive Council (SEC), leaders, elders and stakeholders of the APC, assured of seamless second terms for President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio and Eno, and charged the electorate to be in the vanguard of realising the mission.
Governor Umo Eno Forced My Defection
With the defection of Enoidem, the only remnants still marking time in the former ruling party, media gathered, include the immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel; the current PDP publicity secretary, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong and the former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Uyo, the commissioner for Information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, dismissed the insinuation that Akwa Ibom was inching towards a one party state, explaining that “it’s all about a one, united Akwa Ibom” devoid of political party sentiments.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting, Warn Against Tampering With State’s Oil Wells
Akwa Ibom indigenes protest RMAFC meeting, warn against tampering with State’s Oil Wells. Akwa Ibom indigenes resident in Abuja on Tuesday stormed the venue of a meeting of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), where the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) on Disputed/New Oil Wells was sitting, to protest what they described as attempts to reopen a matter already settled by the Supreme Court.
The protesters cautioned that no individual or agency should tamper with Akwa Ibom State’s 76 oil wells, stressing that the ownership of the wells was conclusively determined in favour of the state by the Supreme Court in 2012.
They insisted that any move to revisit the issue through administrative or technical processes would amount to a disregard for the authority of the apex court and could undermine peace in the Niger Delta region.
Akwa Ibom State was formally represented at the IATC meeting by a high-powered delegation comprising leading legal practitioners, government officials and technocrats. Members of the delegation included Paul Usoro, SAN; Assam Assam, SAN; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN; Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN; and a former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom Indigenes Protest RMAFC Meeting
Also on the state’s delegation were the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Emem Bob, Former Attorney General and Commissioner Justice, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim; the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah; Honourable Member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Dr Patrick Umoh, among others.
The delegation is expected to present Akwa Ibom State’s position before the committee, reiterating that the Supreme Court judgment remains final and binding, and urging all relevant federal agencies to respect and uphold the ruling.
PVC, APC E-Registration: Umo Eno Charges Constituents To Embrace Exercises
PVC, APC e-registration: Umo Eno charges constituents to embrace exercises. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has urged indigenes and residents of Ibiakpan Obotim Ward II, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, as well as others across the state, to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and APC membership e-registration exercise, as, according to him, it is crucial for validating party membership and ensuring their voices are heard.
Addressing a crowd of APC members and supporters at his hometown, Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor said that boosting both registrations is also critical to attracting more dividends, programmes, and welfare to the area.
“More party membership in a particular Ward implies more allocation of the party’s welfare to the place. And, I enjoin you to step up the membership numbers in order to be significant and relevant in the party’s scheme of things,” he noted.
The Governor directed the people to ensure that they register appropriately with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to have their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, and become eligible to participate in future electoral exercises.
“No matter how populated you are in your party, if you don’t have your PVC, such a party population will be meaningless because your vote would not be counted as expected.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno
“So, I urge you to take these things very seriously and act accordingly for you and our people to be qualified to participate adequately in the upcoming elections,” he stressed.
Having gone round during the day to inspect the ongoing 120-metre Ofriyo–Eket Bridge and the 2.5 kilometre dual carriageway connecting Eket and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas, and the ongoing General Hospital project in Ikot Ekpene Udo, the Governor enjoined the people to fully support the projects and other developmental initiatives of the administration for the overall benefit of the local government are
Police Arrests Suspected Car Snatcher, Recover Stolen Vehicle In Akwa Ibom
Police arrests suspected car snatcher, recover stolen cehicle in Akwa Ibom. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief and recovered a stolen vehicle in a swift operation in Uyo.
According to a statement released by the Command and signed by DSP Timfon John, LLB, Anipr, Police Public Relations Officer.
The incident occurred on 20th January 2026 around 11:30 pm, when operatives on routine night patrol along Godswill Akpabio International Stadium responded to a distress call from a man, a Bolt driver, who reported that his Toyota Corolla had been stolen at gunpoint.
Police quickly traced the stolen vehicle to Nkwot Ikono Village, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of Sunday Okon, a resident of Nna Enin Village, Uruan Local Government Area.
The suspect, who was found in possession of the stolen Toyota Corolla (registration DKA 337 CB) reportedly confessed to the crime during preliminary interrogation.
The Police Command said that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and recover their weapons.
Police Arrests
Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare fsi, commended the prompt response and professionalism of the officers, reassuring residents of the Command’s commitment to combating violent crimes and protecting lives and property across the state.
The public has been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely information to assist police operations.
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