UYO, Nigeria — Former Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has refuted reports that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the recent switch by Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, the elder statesman clarified that his attendance at the governor’s defection ceremony was an act of goodwill, not a political endorsement of the APC.
“I have not defected from any party to another,” Essien stated, reaffirming his status as a non-aligned elder statesman since his retirement from active politics in 2014.
He emphasised that his presence at the event should not be misconstrued as a political realignment.
Chief Essien praised Governor Eno’s leadership, describing it as inclusive and mature, and acknowledged the governor’s decision to join the APC as a pragmatic move in light of the PDP’s internal challenges.
“The governor has taken the right decision to secure his next election on a relatively stable platform,” he said, citing the PDP’s “self-inflicted debacle” and lack of internal democracy.
However, the former minister expressed concern over reports that the governor was allegedly pressuring other elected officials—both at the state and federal levels, including local government chairmen—to follow suit.
“These elected officers have independent mandates and should be free to make their own political decisions,” he cautioned, warning against coercive political manoeuvres that undermine democratic choice.
Essien also criticised what he described as a lack of inclusivity by the APC at the federal level, singling out Senate President Godswill Akpabio for not extending appointments or empowerment initiatives to PDP members and politically neutral stakeholders in Akwa Ibom.
He called for greater political tolerance and mutual respect, urging leaders to focus on the common good of the state.
“As an elder statesman, my priority remains the unity, peace, and progress of Akwa Ibom State,” Essien concluded, urging political actors to prioritise stability over partisan interest as the state navigates its evolving political landscape.
