Six months after Governor Umo Eno formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to prominently display his photographs at its Akwa Ibom state secretariat.

A visit to the PDP party secretariat at Atan Offot, Uyo, on Wednesday revealed Eno’s official portrait displayed in strategic offices and corridors, alongside campaign posters still adorning the walls.

The continued display has sparked questions among party faithful, who wonder why the PDP would retain the governor’s images despite his formal departure.

Some concerned PDP chieftains interpret the presence of the posters as a reflection of Eno’s earlier statement suggesting he would still influence the party even after leaving it, a notion that has drawn criticism from loyalists.

The PDP in Akwa Ibom has since been divided into two factions following the defection. Former state chairman Aniekan Akpan is accused of aligning with the APC while still claiming leadership of the PDP, prompting the National Working Committee (NWC) to recognize a new faction led by Umoren Iquat.

However, the PDP national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, later issued a statement clarifying that the NWC had not formally dissolved Akpan’s executive, contradicting earlier claims.

Commenting on the situation, a PDP group known as PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, led by Dr. Tom Fredfish, said:

“It is an open secret that Aniekan Akpan has been fraternizing with the APC while pretending to remain in the PDP. No one can serve two masters; therefore, he should stop deceiving the public, quit the PDP, and formally register with his new political home – the APC.”

Attempts to reach Aniekan Akpan for comment were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly out of the office, and his phone lines were unreachable.

Akwa Ibom, once a stronghold of the PDP, now faces an uncertain political future ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party’s internal divisions and the governor’s defection reshaping the state’s political landscape.