Rismadarvoice Reporter
December 27, 2025
Governor Umo Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress was presented to Akwa Ibom people as a strategic sacrifice made in the collective interest of the state.
At the heart of his justification was a clear, repeated assurance that aligning Akwa Ibom with the Federal Government would unlock long delayed federal projects, most notably the Ibom Deep Seaport, located in Ibaka.
The Governor openly argued that political realignment was necessary to connect Akwa Ibom to the centre of power, in accelerating federal approvals that had eluded the state for years.
The narrative was persuasive to many citizens who believed that the decision, though controversial, was rooted in pragmatic governance rather than partisan ambition.
However, developments following the defection have raised serious questions about the sincerity and credibility of that justification.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since approved a one billion dollar total reconstruction of major Nigerian ports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt. In addition, approvals have been granted for the establishment of other deep seaports across the country.
Yet, despite the Governor’s much publicized political alignment with the ruling party, the Ibom Deep Seaport remains without federal approval.
This stark reality directly contradicts the central argument used to sell the defection to Akwa Ibomites.
If proximity to the centre was the key, why has Akwa Ibom continued to be bypassed, while other states benefit from federal maritime investments?
If defection was the bridge to federal attention, why has that bridge not led to the promised destination?
The situation has left many residents feeling misled, with growing concerns that the Governor’s defection was less about strategic development, more about political convenience.
For a state that was asked to trust the Governor’s judgment, endure the political consequences of switching allegiance, the absence of tangible federal rewards amounts to a breach of expectation.
Governance is built on trust, trust is sustained by consistency between words and outcomes.
By linking his defection directly to the Ibom Deep Seaport approval, Governor Umo Eno raised public expectations, placed his credibility on the line.
So far, those expectations remain unmet.
Akwa Ibom people are now confronted with an uncomfortable question. Were they genuinely being positioned for federal advantage, or were they simply taken for a ride under the guise of political strategy?
Until the Ibom Deep Seaport moves beyond rhetoric to reality, the Governor’s defection will continue to be viewed not as a masterstroke of leadership, rather as a promise unkept.
