Akwa Ibom Decides 2027

Deputy candidate: Sen. Akon Eyakenyi

Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 Akwa Ibom State governorship election. He is the incumbent Governor of Akwa Ibom State and is seeking a second term in office.

Born on 24 April 1964, Umo Eno is a native of Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He attended primary and secondary schools in Lagos and Akwa Ibom before proceeding to the University of Uyo, where he obtained degrees in Public Administration.

Before entering active politics, Umo Eno built a career spanning banking, hospitality, entrepreneurship and Christian ministry. He worked with Union Bank, Bertola Machine Tools Nigeria Limited and Norman Holdings Limited, where he rose to a senior management position.

He later established the Royalty Group, a hospitality and business organisation with interests in hotels, catering and related services. He is also the founder and senior pastor of All Nations Christian Ministry International.

His entry into public service included his appointment as Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources in Akwa Ibom State. He resigned from the position to contest the 2023 governorship election.

Umo Eno won the 2023 Akwa Ibom State governorship election and was sworn in as Governor on 29 May 2023. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before formally joining the All Progressives Congress in June 2025.

His administration has pursued programmes covering rural development, agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, aviation, entrepreneurship and social welfare. These programmes have largely been implemented under the ARISE Agenda and the administration’s Golden Era development direction.

In May 2026, Umo Eno emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election after winning the party’s primary election held across the wards of Akwa Ibom State.

As the incumbent governor, his campaign is expected to focus on his administration’s record in office, the completion of ongoing projects and his plans for the next phase of development in Akwa Ibom State.

He is contesting the election alongside Senator Dr Akon Eyakenyi as his running mate.

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Michael Bush is a broadcaster, media entrepreneur and politician from Ekpene Ukim in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Born on 12 August 1971, he is the founder and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bush House Nigeria, a media production organisation. His broadcasting career spans more than three decades.

Bush stated in an interview with The Nation that he studied French at the University of Uyo after spending part of his early life in Cameroon. He worked with the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation and later developed independent broadcast programmes, including AM Express Extra. He also attended the National Institute for Cultural Orientation’s Abuja Training School during the 2015/2016 academic session.

In public service, he served as Special Assistant on Electronic Media to former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Previously a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bush initially declared his 2027 governorship ambition under the PDP before joining the Labour Party. He emerged as the party’s governorship nominee at its primary election held in Uyo on 30 May 2026.

His campaign, “Idorenyin Akwa Ibom,” identifies inclusion, justice and good governance as its priorities. Beyond broadcasting and politics, he has undertaken charitable activities through the Bush House Foundation, including educational and community support.

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