Tension in Akwa Ibom as Ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Security Withdrawn Amid Political Rift Allegations
Story : written by Okafor Joseph October 6,2025
Tension has gripped Akwa Ibom State following the reported withdrawal of security personnel attached to former Governor Udom Emmanuel over the weekend.
Investigations revealed that police officers assigned to the two residences of the ex-governor in the state were suddenly recalled, sparking mixed reactions and political speculations across the state.
While some residents accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led state government of orchestrating the move to pressure Emmanuel into defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), others claimed the development confirmed a growing rift between Governor Umo Eno and his predecessor.
Udom Emmanuel, who played a major role in Umo Eno’s emergence as governor under the PDP in the 2023 general elections, has since remained loyal to the opposition party even after Eno reportedly switched allegiance to the APC.
Sources close to the former governor alleged that Emmanuel’s decision to stay in the PDP and rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 elections may have unsettled the ruling camp, prompting the alleged withdrawal of his security aides.
However, the Akwa Ibom State government has denied any involvement in the matter.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, described the report as “false and misleading,” insisting that the state government had no authority over police deployment.
“The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police, not the governor,” Umanah clarified.
He further emphasized that all former governors in Akwa Ibom are entitled to their security details as stipulated by law.
“To the best of our knowledge, no former governor or aide has lodged a complaint about the withdrawal of police personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those spreading it,” he added.
But in contrast, Barrister Steve Abia, Special Assistant to Udom Emmanuel, confirmed the withdrawal, saying there were currently no police officers stationed at the former governor’s homes.
“The reality is that there are no police security men at His Excellency’s residences. Who ordered the withdrawal, I can’t say,” he told reporters.
Reacting to the controversy, the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, a pro-PDP group, described the move as a politically motivated attempt to intimidate the former governor and weaken the PDP in Akwa Ibom.
The group’s chairman, Dr. Tom FredFish, said, “If the state claims not to know who withdrew Udom Emmanuel’s security details, that raises serious questions. This is clearly political and aimed at silencing PDP voices in Akwa Ibom. But it won’t succeed—the PDP will not collapse.”
Dr. FredFish urged the state government to focus on governance rather than political intimidation, stressing that peace and stability should be prioritized above partisan interests.
