Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state have begun regrouping and rebuilding efforts in response to recent defections, as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Last week, some loyal party members paid a strategic visit to the state chairman, Aniekan Akpan, in Uyo.
The visit was part of wider consultations aimed at repositioning the PDP, once regarded as a political “religion” in the state.
Several party leaders also held meetings with Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the PDP, and other national officials in Abuja to kickstart the rebuilding process.
At a recent gathering to mark Akpan’s birthday in Uyo, key stakeholders were in attendance, including Emmanuel Enoidem, former national legal adviser; Ini Ememobong, former information commissioner; and Chris Abasieyo, also a former information commissioner.
Tom Fredfish, a PDP chieftain and convener of the party’s Advocate for Peace and Justice, confirmed the renewed efforts in a media chat in Uyo.
Fredfish expressed disappointment over the reported defection of Governor Umo Eno to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but said the PDP had moved on.
He said: “PDP is still existing, and people remaining in PDP are people of integrity. People that are committed to the party, who know how to rebuild, who can build the party to become what it used to be before the exit of certain persons.
“The framers of the Nigerian constitution did not envisage that somebody occupying the office of governor would escape from his party.
“That is why the constitution did not insert any clause to protect a political party that has won, because they never believed a governor given a ticket on one party would decide he no longer wants his party. PDP should go to court and claim its mandate.”
While commending Governor Eno for recent social programmes, including school construction and healthcare renovations, Fredfish advised a shift in development priorities.
He criticised the proposed international hospital, urging the governor to instead build a general hospital in Uyo that would be accessible to the common people.
He also called on the government to ease congestion in the state capital by linking Uyo to nearby local government areas and opening up new settlements to drive manpower and development.