ABUJA, Nigeria – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded with open arms to Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno’s thinly veiled critique of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), offering him a “safe and comfortable flight” aboard what it called “Plane APC.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, said the governor’s recent remarks likening the PDP to a faulty aircraft resonate with the reality facing Nigeria’s former ruling party.
“We couldn’t agree more that Plane PDP has become demonstrably inoperable and unsafe for travel,” Morka said.
He added that the APC is “fit and ready” to accommodate Governor Eno and his political associates, assuring them of a secure and rewarding journey.
“Our pilots and crew are highly competent, welcoming, attentive to detail, and on standby to serve,” Morka quipped.
“We assure Governor Eno that a flight with us will be a mighty good ride to remember.”
Governor Eno stirred controversy this week when he told constituents that the PDP “can no longer fly safely” and that the state must “board the next available aircraft” to continue its development journey—remarks widely interpreted as a signal of impending defection.
The comments come amid a wave of high-profile defections from the PDP to the APC, most notably Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who joined the ruling party alongside dozens of top PDP stakeholders.
The PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) responded on Monday by dissolving its Delta chapter and threatening legal action to recover party mandates from defectors.
Acting PDP National Chairman Umar Damagun called for calm among party faithful and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to legal redress and internal reform.
Analysts see the unfolding drama as a precursor to the 2027 general elections, with both major parties aggressively courting influential southern governors amid growing realignments.
Governor Eno’s defection, if realised, would represent a massive blow to the PDP’s presence in the oil-rich South-South region—once considered its stronghold.
