No Justification! Shehu Sani Dismantles Gov Eno’s Reason For Political Switch

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has taken a swipe at Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State over the reasons he gave for his planned defection from the party.

Governor Eno recently revealed that he had decided to leave the PDP, despite professing continued affection for the party. He admitted concerns that the PDP might not provide him with a clear path to electoral success.

“I love the PDP and want to remain in it, but I don’t see a roadmap that guarantees me a smooth electoral process—not because we can’t win elections,” Eno had said.

However, in a statement released on Saturday, Umar Sani—who served as the spokesman of the PDP’s presidential campaign in 2019—described the governor’s justification as baseless and lacking in merit.

Sani criticized Eno’s stance as contradictory, noting that the governor had been actively involved in organizing the party’s upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 27, 2025, and the National Convention set to take place in Kano this August.

“What makes his excuse even more questionable is that Governor Eno is part of the planning process for major party events, including the NEC meeting and the national convention. His claim that unresolved leadership disputes, like the one over the party’s National Secretary, could threaten his political future is both disingenuous and self-serving,” Sani said.

He emphasized that the PDP’s convention remains the appropriate platform to resolve internal conflicts democratically and in accordance with INEC oversight. Eno’s suggestion that the party’s internal issues could lead to legal challenges that would nullify legitimate elections was described by Sani as speculative and misleading.

Sani further suggested that Governor Eno’s real motivations may lie elsewhere—particularly the ongoing EFCC investigation involving former Governor Udom Emmanuel, who is reportedly under scrutiny for the alleged misappropriation of over ₦70 billion in state funds.

“It’s no coincidence that Eno’s defection plans emerged following reports of former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s invitation by the EFCC. Just like former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s unwavering loyalty to his successor, it seems Governor Eno is determined to protect Udom’s legacy—and possibly shield him from political or legal consequences,” Sani added.