Akwa Ibom pensioners have fixed October 30, 2026, for the public endorsement of Governor Umo Eno for a second term, citing the payment of more than ₦100 billion in inherited pension and gratuity arrears as a major reason for their support.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, and its secretary, Obong Cosmos M. Essien, announced the date in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo on Sunday.

The pensioners said the event, scheduled to hold at the Ibom Hall grounds, would also feature an Award of Excellence for Eno in recognition of what they described as his achievements in governance and commitment to the welfare of retired workers.

They directed pensioners across the state to arrive at the venue by 8am for the event, which they described as the “mother of all endorsements”.

According to the union, the decision to endorse the governor followed his administration’s efforts to address pension liabilities inherited from previous administrations, as well as its interventions in the welfare of senior citizens.

The union said the state government had cleared more than ₦100 billion out of an estimated ₦110 billion in inherited pension and gratuity obligations, a development it said had earned the governor the confidence and appreciation of retirees.

The pensioners also cited the construction of a senior citizens’ home, alongside reported welfare provisions, including free medical treatment, as evidence of the administration’s attention to the needs of elderly residents.

They said pensioners who had spent years contributing to the development of Akwa Ibom deserved sustained attention, adding that the governor’s reported interventions had encouraged them to publicly declare their support for his re-election.

“We will pray for the success of the governor, we will also pray for the success of the state and God will hearken to our prayers,” the union said.

It added that the endorsement was intended to appreciate Eno’s achievements and encourage him to continue his work beyond 2027.

The October 30 event will place pension payments and retirees’ welfare at the centre of the union’s political declaration ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

While the pensioners have presented the reported clearance of arrears and welfare programmes as grounds for their support, the planned endorsement also signals their intention to translate that assessment of the governor’s performance into an explicit political position.

Eno’s administration has pursued its ARISE Agenda, which covers development and welfare priorities across the state. The pensioners’ planned endorsement suggests that the handling of retirement benefits will remain a significant factor in how the union evaluates the government as the next election approaches.