A deepening political feud in Akwa Ibom State has exploded into public view, with the security detail attached to the residences of former Governor Udom Emmanuel being abruptly withdrawn by state authorities. The action is widely seen as a punitive measure following the political fallout between Emmanuel and his successor, Governor Umo Eno.
The withdrawal was formalized in a directive, marked Order 472 and dated September 30, instructing police operatives attached to Emmanuel’s residences to withdraw on October 1 and report for debriefing at the Police Headquarters in Uyo. The order was signed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police on behalf of the Chief Security Officer at the Government House, Uyo. The withdrawal also reportedly included security details assigned to other former state officials who refused to defect to the ruling party.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, denied the withdrawal, while the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, claimed to be unaware of the development, stating the order “can’t be from the state government.” However, the absence of security personnel at Emmanuel’s residences in both his country home at Awa Iman and his Ewet Housing Estate apartment was confirmed by reporters.
This public security spat exposes a vicious political battle that began in June when Governor Umo Eno abruptly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending the PDP’s 25-year dominance in the oil-rich state.
- The defection instantly strained Eno’s relationship with his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, whom Eno had previously acknowledged as his “political godfather.”
- The feud intensified as the Governor—now APC—vowed to retain control of the PDP state structure to prevent it from being used by his political enemies (led by Emmanuel, now effectively the opposition leader). Eno’s leaked video in May, where he stated, “We would not leave the PDP for thieves to hijack… We will lead the structure of the party,” highlighted his determination to consolidate power across both parties.
- The political tension recently culminated in the PDP National Working Committeedissolving the party’s state executive council in Akwa Ibom and constituting a caretaker committee. This move was widely interpreted as an attempt by the national party to neutralize Governor Eno’s influence and regain control of the chapter.
The withdrawal of security—a service traditionally distributed to former and serving officials through the Governor’s authorization—marks the clearest sign yet that the political disagreement between the former “godfather” and his successor has escalated into an open confrontation, one capable of fundamentally altering Akwa Ibom’s future political landscape.
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