Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno Meets Tinubu at Aso Rock After Defection
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno on Friday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in his first official engagement with the president following his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Details of the closed-door meeting were not immediately disclosed, but sources familiar with the visit said discussions centered on governance priorities, federal-state collaboration, and development initiatives affecting Akwa Ibom State.
The meeting comes amid heightened political attention surrounding the governor’s party switch, a move that has generated reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. Analysts say the engagement signals a potential realignment of political dynamics within the oil-rich South-South region.
Observers also note that such high-level consultations are typically aimed at reinforcing working relationships between state executives and the federal government, particularly on issues of infrastructure, economic development, and security.
Governor Eno’s defection has been widely discussed by political commentators, with supporters describing it as a strategic decision while critics debate its broader implications for party politics in the state.
Neither the Presidency nor the Akwa Ibom State Government issued an extensive statement immediately after the meeting, though officials indicated that further details may be communicated through formal channels.
The development adds to ongoing shifts and negotiations within Nigeria’s evolving political environment ahead of future electoral cycles.
