Daily lens Report
Tension has gripped Akwa Ibom State following the sudden withdrawal of police officers attached to the immediate past governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, over the weekend.
Checks revealed that all security operatives previously stationed at Emmanuel’s two residences in the state have been recalled, sparking political speculation and public concern.
The development has divided opinions across the state. While some residents accuse the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of masterminding the move to pressure the former governor into joining the party, others see it as a clear sign of a souring relationship between Governor Umo Eno and his predecessor.
Emmanuel, who played a decisive role in Eno’s election as governor under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, has since remained loyal to the PDP despite Eno’s reported defection to the APC. Insiders say Emmanuel’s refusal to abandon the PDP and his renewed efforts to strengthen the party ahead of 2027 may have unsettled some power players.
However, the state government has distanced itself from the controversy. In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, dismissed as “false and misleading” the reports linking Governor Eno to the withdrawal.
> “The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, not any governor,” Umanah stated.
“To the best of our knowledge, no former governor has lodged any complaint about the withdrawal of security details. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it,” he added.
Umanah urged the public to disregard what he described as “baseless propaganda,” reaffirming that Governor Eno remained committed to peace, unity, and good governance.
But contradicting the state’s position, Barr. Steve Abia, Special Assistant to former Governor Emmanuel, confirmed that the security operatives had indeed been withdrawn.
> “The reality on the ground is that if you go to the ex-governor’s houses right now, there are no police security men—that’s the truth. Who ordered their withdrawal, I cannot say,” Abia told reporters.
Meanwhile, the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, a pro-PDP group, has condemned the incident, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to silence Emmanuel and weaken the opposition.
The group’s chairman, Dr. Tom FredFish, said the situation “exposes the cracks” between Eno and his political benefactor.
> “This is clearly political. They want to cripple the PDP in Akwa Ibom and force Udom into submission. But it won’t work,” FredFish said.
As the controversy deepens, political watchers fear the incident could widen the rift between the state’s current and former leadership, potentially reshaping Akwa Ibom’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
