The former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has criticized Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State for allegedly putting elected officials under pressure to defect with him to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Governor Eno, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) after months of speculations had warned members of his cabinet to either defect with him or resign.
It was also gathered that council chairmen in the 31 local government councils and members of the state house of Assembly were also being coerced to defect. Already, the speaker of the state assembly, Udeme Otong has announced his defection to the APC
Speaking to reporters, Essien also a former member of the House of Representatives tackled Eno for asking the elected officials to defect with him saying they were independently elected.
“These elected officials hold independent mandates and should not be coerced. True political maturity respects the freedom of choice,” he warned.
“I have not defected from any political party to another,” he declared unequivocally. “My attendance was in support of the governor as an elder statesman and concerned indigene—not as a partisan participant.”
Chief Essien emphasized that since retiring from elective politics in 2014 at the age of 70, he has committed himself to non-partisan service, offering guidance and advocating peace and equity in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
He acknowledged the governor’s constitutional right to change political affiliation, noting that Umo Eno’s move was likely informed by persistent internal crises within the PDP and the perceived stability of the APC at the national level.
“The PDP has suffered from years of impunity and a lack of internal democracy,” Essien noted. “In such a context, the governor’s decision to defect is strategic and perhaps necessary to safeguard his political future.”
However, he raised concerns over the manner in which Governor Eno is allegedly pressuring lawmakers and local government chairmen to follow him to the APC.
Reflecting on the governor’s leadership, Chief Essien commended Umo Eno’s previous efforts to build political bridges—highlighting his support for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu even before defecting from the PDP. According to Essien, these actions were pragmatic attempts to foster peace and draw federal attention to Akwa Ibom State.
Nonetheless, he criticized the “non-reciprocal posture” of the Senate President’s political structure, pointing to the exclusion of neutral or non-APC actors from federal benefits and empowerment programmes.
“Despite the governor’s magnanimity, many non-APC stakeholders remain sidelined,” he observed. This undermines inclusive governance.”
Chief Essien further underscored the political significance of Akpabio’s role as Senate President—a position that returned to the South-South after four decades. He urged collaborative engagement, while warning against factionalism that may fracture the state’s fragile political harmony.
“Let us not squander the gains of peace with needless provocations,” he appealed. “Respect for divergent views is the hallmark of democracy.”
