The political party’s ideology fad famous in saner clime does not fly with Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno following his planned defection to another political party.
Eno who was elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sworn into office as a governor on May 29, 2023 is planning to pitch tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Eno likened PDP to a faulty aircraft, suggesting he might consider boarding a “different plane” to reach his political destination—an analogy many interpret as a hint at defecting to the ruling APC in the country.
Also read
- Public servants to enjoy New Minimum Wage, Governor Eno assures
- Governor Eno Gives N150 million to widows of fallen heroes
- May Day 2024: Governor Eno Declares Farm Days in Akwa Ibom
This is as Delta State Governor, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori had led ex-Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and others in the state from PDP to APC.
Eno who spoke in interview with Mighty George, Head of Station of Comfort FM, Uyo who attempted to break the Guinness World Record 100-hour Radio Talk Show on Wednesday only collaborated his earlier statement at ARISE Town Hall meeting with Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency on Tuesday in Ikot Akpa Nkuk, the headquarters of Ukanafun Local Government Area.
He argued that party ideology works with Americans where Republicans and Democrats talk about and believe in political party ideology, not in Nigeria.
‘‘Should we have issue with our brother who is in another party? First, we are all Akwa Ibomites. Since party is a vehicle to get to power and when you get there, begin to govern. You govern everyone and relate with everyone. And that is the fundamental question. I said something and people began to go to town to misinterpret it,’’ he reasoned.
In recapping ‘‘Yesterday, I made an analogy and people say he is demarketing Ibom Air. That is far from it. Ibom Air is the best airline. I am saying that much as I love Ibom Air- it is our airline and it is our preferred airline much as I love and have it as a state government,’’ the governor stated.
According to him, ‘‘I arrive at the airport and Ibom Air has a technical fault which is possible. I have an appointment in Lagos or Abuja to deliver a talk or a very serious appointment with investor and I have an alternative airline to travel.
So, when people say he was demarketing our airline, will I say this is my airline because it is owned by the state government, you say he was demarketing Ibom Air. Won’t you board the next available plane to take you to your destination?”
Throwing more light to the statement, the governor posited ‘‘What I am saying is that Akwa Ibom State is one. Political parties are vehicles. And then I ask the question and I want you to tell me: What is the political ideology in this country and the political ideology of this party? I want to know. We are not like the Americans saying this is the political ideology of the Republicans and this is the political ideology of the Democrats.
‘‘Tell me: what is the political ideology of this country because people keep coming and going. I do not think so. I keep saying let us be one whether it is this party or party platform. When you finished an election now in governance you are sworn into an office. You are expected to be a governor of Akwa Ibom.’’
Political analysts say this may not be unconnected with the planned formation of Coalition by ex-Nigeria’s Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Atiku for use as a platform to ride to Presidency in 2027, a move seen by many as attempt to disrupt the Southern zoning turn.
Others attribute the massive defections to APC to what is seen probably affirmation of the, Benjamin Anyanwu, PDP National Secretary by the Supreme Court, a crisis that has ruffled many feathers in the party.
PDP Demands resignation of defectors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that Delta State Governor, Oborevwori, vacate his seat following his defection to the APC.
Acting PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagun, made the demand on Tuesday, when addressing journalists after a closed-door NWC meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Mr Damagum said the party has instructed its national legal adviser to initiate proceedings to recover what it describes as the party’s stolen mandate in line with the Electoral Act.
“We have also instructed the national legal adviser to recover our mandate that they have taken away. The fortune of this party cannot just be left in the hands of our adversaries. So, we will take legal action to retrieve those mandates in line with the Electoral Act that says whenever you leave you must leave the chair that you have occupied. So, we are still going to do that,” he said.
What Nigerian constitution says
Contrary to PDP’s position, the Nigerian constitution does not require governors or their deputies to vacate office upon defection.
Legal experts and past court rulings affirm that only legislators, specifically members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly are compelled to vacate their seats upon defection, except in cases of internal party crisis.
Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the constitution govern such provisions, but they do not extend to presidents, vice presidents or governors and deputy governors.
This legal stance was reaffirmed in the Supreme Court ruling in Atiku Abubakar v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2007), which upheld the right of elected executive office holders to defect without losing their positions.
