PDP BoT in turmoil as Senator Effiong Bob leads another wave of defection to APC

A major political shake-up is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Senator Effiong Bob, a prominent member of its Board of Trustees (BoT), prepares to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His impending departure, after nearly three decades with the PDP, is expected to trigger a wave of defections from the party’s top hierarchy in the coming months, as fears mount over the PDP’s internal crises and uncertain future.

Bob, a former two-term Senator who represented Akwa Ibom North Central from 2007 to 2011 and chaired the influential Senate Committee on Finance, has reportedly finalized plans to leave the PDP along with his political associates and supporters.

According to sources close to the seasoned politician, his decision was driven by growing frustration with the party’s protracted leadership crisis—especially the unresolved controversy surrounding the position of National Secretary—and the looming threat such instability poses to candidates’ legitimacy in the 2027 general elections.

“Senator Bob, who played a key role in the campaign machinery that secured Governor Umo Eno’s victory in 2023, has concluded plans to join the APC,” a source told The Nation.

“He is an outstanding political figure in Akwa Ibom and is leaving after 28 years of committed service to the PDP.”

This move would make Bob the first high-ranking member of the PDP’s BoT to jump ship in the current wave of defections.

READ ALSO: Agege APC in turmoil over alleged candidate imposition ahead of primaries

His associates confirmed that a growing number of PDP loyalists in Akwa Ibom are reconsidering their positions, citing fears of a repeat of the 2023 Zamfara scenario, where the APC lost all its electoral victories due to internal legal wrangling over candidate endorsements.

“In the face of conflicting court judgments and unresolved leadership disputes, how do we know who will validly sign the INEC nomination forms? It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” one source lamented. “We’re not betraying the PDP. We’re leaving because the party has failed to show it can resolve its challenges before the next elections.”

Sources say Bob’s exit could trigger a domino effect in Akwa Ibom, mirroring last week’s mass defection of PDP stalwarts in Delta State.

The development is further fueled by speculations that Governor Umo Eno himself is inching closer to the APC, though he is reportedly awaiting the final decision of his predecessor, who has so far hesitated to make the leap.

“The Governor is only being cautious because of his predecessor, but it’s just a matter of time,” another insider revealed. “His recent comments suggest he is already mentally prepared to switch camps. His close allies have already begun the movement.”

Governor Eno has in recent months expressed admiration for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and has pledged support for his re-election in 2027. He has also openly aligned with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, further fueling speculation about his future political path.

In response to the mounting defections, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader and member of the National Working Committee, Comrade Timothy Osadolor, expressed dismay at the trend but maintained that the party would rather see such members leave than continue undermining the party from within.

“We know some highly-placed individuals who’ve benefited immensely from the PDP but are now orchestrating defection plots. Let them leave now, so we can identify loyal members and begin rebuilding,” Osadolor stated. “If it’s the transport fare they lack, they should come to Wadata Plaza—we’ll assist them.”

He emphasized that political relevance is not defined by titles or wealth but by the support of the people. “The last general election proved that Nigerians vote for candidates, not necessarily governors or BoT members. The defectors should remember that history will judge their actions.”