The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has expressed confidence that the party will win the 2027 governorship and other elections in Akwa Ibom State, despite the defection of Governor Umo Eno to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Damagum made this statement in Abuja when he received a former member of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom, Onofiok Luke, and a former state commissioner, Ini Ememobong, in his office.
Also present at the meeting were the PDP National Youth Leader, Muhammed Suleiman, and the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
Mr. Ememobong, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Akwa Ibom, had refused to follow Governor Eno to the APC in June. Instead, he resigned his position as Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport.
Similarly, Mr. Luke, a former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, who comes from the same local government area as Governor Eno, Nsit Ubium, also chose to remain with the PDP.
Both Mr. Luke and Mr. Ememobong shared photos and comments from their meeting with Mr. Damagum on their Facebook pages.
Damagum praised Ememobong, describing him as a principled politician who remains firm despite political pressure. He said that with the support of loyal PDP leaders like Luke and Ememobong, and the strong support the party enjoys in Akwa Ibom, the PDP remains hopeful of winning future elections in the state.
“With these people and the historic love that Akwa Ibom people have for the PDP, we are hopeful to win all the elections in the state,” he said.
The PDP has been facing internal leadership issues in recent times, which has led to the defection of several members, including lawmakers, to the APC.
Gov Eno had said he left the PDP due to the ongoing crisis in the party. He also said he wants to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and align Akwa Ibom with the federal government to attract more development, especially for projects like the Ibom Deep Seaport.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has also recently left the PDP for the APC.
