Historic Rally as Akwa Ibom Becomes APC State

Gov Eno and Senate President, Akpabio exchanging pleasantries at the event

By Joe Iniodu

The arena spangled with an assortment of colours — white, red, purple, yellow, grey, green, brown — either as uniform worn by different groups or flags fluttering as banners coalescing into a constellation of colourful spectacle. The atmosphere was boisterous as music from the speakers intertwined with varying entertainment from various groups. The mood hightened into an electrifyingly ecstatic symphony. The human traffic within and outside the arena bourgeoned to almost inelastic point. The massive crowd underscored the historic nature of the day. As it could be said, if one were to spiritually appraise the event, it could indeed be described as the day the Lord had made.

The day was June 21, 2025. It was the grand reception of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D into the fold of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Eno had on June 6, 2025, announced that he was “progressively moving to the All Progressives Congress,” citing enlightened State interest as the motivation. He had therefore, earlier that day resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — the platform that brought him to power and which is almost in smithereens due to internal wranglings. June 21 was therefore set aside for the reception and his official admission into APC, a surer platform from where he could prosecute his second term ambition without any legal ambush.

Information to the public had put the commencement of the event for noon. But by early morning, the arena was thronged with a mammoth crowd. The breadth of Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard which hosts the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium had the two sides of the road crammed with vehicles, leaving people the choice of parking at endless distances and taking long walks to the venue.

So passionate were the people that they didn’t mind to walk kilometres to the venue. By 12 noon, the venue was jam-packed to its brim. Time was ticking. At about 1:15 p.m., blaring sirens rent the air, signalling the arrival of the expected dignitaries. At exactly 1:18 p.m., a Coaster bus conveying the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Umo Eno and many other dignitaries rolled into the arena. As they stepped out of the bus, the crowd erupted in ecstacy. The arrival coincided with the time a popular music artiste in the state, Mr Xto, was doing one of his pulsating renditions, “Na You Dem Send.” The moment witnessed a blend between a Governor who has endeared himself to his people and a song which long held the appeal of the people. As the governor moved around the arena waving at the people and gyrating subtly to the music, flags fluttered, displaying a rainbow of scenic splendour. The joy of the people knew no bounds.