Fresh tension is brewing in Akwa Ibom State following the sudden withdrawal of security operatives attached to the immediate past governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, from his residences in Uyo over the weekend.
Findings revealed that police officers stationed at both the private and official homes of the former governor were quietly recalled, fuelling widespread speculation and political unease within the state.
The development has sparked controversy, with some political observers accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government of orchestrating the move to pressure Mr Emmanuel into joining the ruling party. Others view it as a clear indication of a deepening rift between Governor Umo Eno and his predecessor.
Mr Emmanuel, who governed Akwa Ibom from 2015 to 2023, played a pivotal role in Eno’s emergence as governor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, relations between the duo reportedly soured after Governor Eno defected to the APC.
While Emmanuel has kept a studied silence since the political realignment, his refusal to defect and his renewed commitment to reviving the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections are said to have unsettled the current administration.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umana, dismissed reports linking the government to the alleged withdrawal, describing them as “false, mischievous, and politically motivated.”
He clarified that the deployment or withdrawal of police officers lies solely within the purview of the Inspector-General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police, not the governor.
“The deployment, reassignment or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the police hierarchy. The governor never issued any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past governor,” Umana said.
He added that all former governors of Akwa Ibom continue to enjoy security protection as provided by law and urged the public to disregard what he called “baseless propaganda.”
But in a twist, Barrister Steve Abia, Special Assistant to the former governor, confirmed the development, insisting that there were currently no police personnel guarding Emmanuel’s residences.
“The reality is that if you visit the ex-governor’s houses right now, you will find no police officers on duty. That is the plain truth,” Abia disclosed. “Who ordered their withdrawal is what I cannot say for now.”
Meanwhile, a pro-PDP group, the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, condemned the situation, alleging a politically motivated plot to silence Emmanuel and weaken the opposition in the state.
Its chairman, Dr Tom Fredfish, described the incident as “a dangerous signal of intolerance,” saying it further confirmed an underlying strain between Eno and his former political mentor.
“If the state government claims ignorance of who withdrew Udom’s security personnel, then something is clearly amiss. It is all part of a grand plan to cripple the PDP in Akwa Ibom,” he alleged.
Fredfish urged the state government to focus on governance rather than political intimidation, warning that such actions could erode public confidence and disturb the fragile peace in the state.
