Samuel Omang
Tension has gripped Akwa Ibom State following the reported withdrawal of police security details attached to the immediate past governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, sparking political ripples across the state.
Reliable sources confirmed that all police officers assigned to guard Emmanuel’s two residences in the state were withdrawn over the weekend, leaving the former governor without his usual security cover.
The development has triggered mixed reactions among political observers. While some accuse the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government of orchestrating the move to pressure the former governor into joining the party, others see it as a reflection of a widening rift between Governor Umo Eno and his predecessor.
Emmanuel, who played a major role in Eno’s emergence as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, has maintained loyalty to the PDP despite Eno’s defection to the APC. Party insiders claim Emmanuel’s insistence on rebuilding the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections may have unsettled political interests in the state.
However, the state government has denied any involvement in the incident. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umana, in a statement on Sunday, described the media reports as “false and misleading,” insisting that the governor had no hand in the alleged withdrawal.
“The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in each state—not the duty of any governor,” Umana stated.
He added that all former governors of Akwa Ibom continue to enjoy security protection as provided by law, saying: “To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint from any former governor or their aides about the withdrawal of police personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”
Umana urged residents to disregard what he described as politically motivated misinformation, assuring that Governor Eno remains focused on peace, unity, and development in the state.
Contrary to the government’s denial, Barrister Steve Abia, Special Assistant to Udom Emmanuel, confirmed to newsmen that the security operatives attached to the former governor were indeed withdrawn.
“The reality on ground is that if you go to the ex-governor’s houses right now, there are no police security men—that is the truth. Who ordered their withdrawal is what I cannot say,” Abia stated.
Meanwhile, a pro-PDP group, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, has condemned the situation, describing it as politically motivated.
The group’s chairman, Dr. Tom FredFish, alleged that the withdrawal was part of a calculated effort to weaken the PDP in Akwa Ibom.
“If the state claims it knows nothing about the missing security details, how does that sound? It clearly suggests there are cracks in the relationship between Governor Eno and his political mentor,” he said.
He accused political actors of trying to silence the opposition in the state, adding: “They want to kill the PDP and pocket the party, but it won’t work. The PDP is not anyone’s personal property in Akwa Ibom.”
Dr. FredFish urged all sides to focus on governance and avoid actions capable of heating the state’s political atmosphere.