Umo Eno: Supporting Tinubu’s second term isn’t betrayal of PDP

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, says his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term is deliberate and not a betrayal of his political party.

On Tuesday, Eno, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will complete his eight-year tenure.

Speaking at a rally in Ikot Ekpene LGA of the state on Thursday, Eno said his choice is rooted in sincerity and will be explained in due time.

“Me, I don’t know how to speak from two sides of the mouth,” he said.

“The other day, I said I was going to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, people said ‘why do I say so?’

“In the night, they go there and go and tell the baba ‘we will support you’, in the afternoon, they do another thing.

“Me I’m supporting baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second term. When the time comes, I will tell you the reason, the time has not come yet. But let me keep it first. There’s no point lying to yourself.

“I will tell you the reason when the time comes and you will see with me why we should support him so that he can complete what he has started.

“You will see what he is doing for our state and you will know why we should not go elsewhere.

“So if you want another support, wait — when he finishes, we will now support another person.”

Eno said his support for Tinubu does not affect his status as a member of his political party.

“Akwa Ibom does not know how to flip-flop,” he said.

“That does not stop me from being a member of my party. I am entitled to my own opinion.”

He said his second-term ambition is also gaining wide backing from Godswill Akpabio, the president of the senate.

“The senate president has told me in many fora,” he said.

“It has been confirmed today by the vote that has been moved, and our mother has also spoken, that they will support Pastor Umo Eno for a second term.

“So if you take your own, I take my own. You fall for me, I fall for you. Na play, not be fight. If you fall for me, I fall for you.”

On Monday, Ose Anenih, a chieftain of the PDP, said governors in the party “do not have the balls” to take on Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a post on X, Anenih described the PDP governors forum’s declaration that it would not join any merger or coalition, as “hubristic” and out of touch with political reality.

Also reacting to the resolution, Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, alleged that PDP governors opposed to the coalition may secretly be working for Tinubu.

Speaking on Arise Television on Monday, Momodu said none of the leading opposition parties can singlehandedly unseat Tinubu.