Breaking: Drama As Commissioner Resigns, Refuses to Follow Popular PDP Governor to APC

• A mild drama occurred in the polity on Friday, June 6, as the commissioner for special duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Ini Ememobong, resigned from his position
• He tendered his resignation letter shortly after Governor Umo Eno officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress
• The resignation, which Ememobong posted on his Facebook page, was a direct response to Governor Eno’s earlier warning to his commissioners and other political appointees to resign if they did not join him in his defection move

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Akwa Ibom state - On Friday, June 6, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, Ini Ememobong, resigned his appointment in protest an hour after Governor Umo Eno defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akwa Ibom commissioner resigns after gov defects to APC

Mr Ememobong posted his resignation letter on Facebook about an hour after Governor Eno officially announced he had left the PDP for APC at an event in Government House on Friday.

Recall that Governor Eno earlier confirmed that he was leaving the PDP for the APC and urged cabinet members unwilling to join him in the new party to resign.

“Prepare to resign the day I announce that I am moving because you cannot; you are an appointee, and your loyalty is fully to me. You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party. It is what it is,” Mr Eno had said.

Commissioner resigns following Eno's threat

However, on Friday, Mr Ememobong cited the governor’s directive as the basis of his resignation, PremiumTimes reported.

The resignation letter shared by the commissioner on his Facebook page read:

“Today, I have tendered my resignation to the Governor in compliance with his directive that his appointees who are unwilling to join him on the political journey to the APC should resign.

“While I cannot question or fault the Governor’s personal decision, I am unable to join in that sojourn. My decision is borne out of my belief in politics with principles and my long-standing opposition to that political platform, which is daily validated by numerous Nigerians across many sectors,” he said.

Read more about Akwa Ibom state, defection here:

• Governor Adeleke opens up on possible defection from PDP to APC after meeting Tinubu
• Akwa Ibom governor declares state of emergency, appoints sole administrator
• Viral video: Akwa Ibom govt mentions those manipulating Governor Eno’s daughter
• Delta gov Oborevwori, Okowa collapse PDP structure into APC

3rd PDP governor speaks on dumping party for APC

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang maintained that it was too early for him to talk about defection from the PDP to the APC.

The PDP governor made the clarification while speaking on the report that many first-time opposition governors are joining the APC to secure their second-term chances.

Mutfwang's clarification came after one of his counterparts in the PDP joined the APC, while another one was recently reported to have concluded a plan to dump the opposition and join the ruling party.

Source: Legit.ng