Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State that he and his supporters will not regret their decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a grand reception held in Uyo on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima described the APC as a home for the governor and his allies.

 “Mr President asked me to assure you personally: No one will question your place here. This party is your home. You will not be humiliated. You will not be forsaken,” Shettima said.

“We are your brothers and sisters in the high tides and the low ebbs. We ride together, and we rise together.”

Shettima praised Tinubu’s record as a democrat and bridge-builder, saying the APC remains a party of purpose, not pretence, and has maintained its dominance in Nigerian politics for over a decade.

Also speaking at the event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Governor Eno’s defection, calling it a mark of political maturity. He suggested that other governors in the South-South region could follow suit.

 “Governor Umo Eno, after you, who knows? Rivers State will tumble. After Rivers, Bayelsa will join,” Akpabio said.

He urged President Tinubu to support the realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport, noting its potential to unlock Akwa Ibom’s blue economy.

Governor Eno, in his remarks, described his defection as a “calculated risk” aimed at securing federal backing for the stalled seaport project.

 “I took the risk because I want to get the Ibom Deep Seaport running. If I can achieve that, I will consider my time in office a success,” he said.

Eno reaffirmed his commitment to governing for all Akwa Ibomites, regardless of party affiliation.

Receiving the governor into the party, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje said Eno’s move affirmed Tinubu’s inclusive leadership style and the growing acceptance of the APC in the South-South.

 “Our Renewed Hope Agenda is working,” Ganduje stated.

“People are joining our party because we believe in discipline, internal democracy, and progressive development.”

He also pledged that the federal government would prioritize the region’s environmental and economic needs, with special focus on youth employment and infrastructure development.