The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed claims that Governor Umo Eno ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Reacting to the reports on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, described the allegations as “false, misleading, and politically motivated.”
According to Umanah, the deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of security personnel is not within the powers of any state governor.
“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,” Umanah clarified.
He emphasized that Governor Eno had no involvement in any such directive and urged the public to disregard what he termed “baseless propaganda.”
“I can tell you on good authority that Governor Umo Eno did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past governor. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it,” he stated.
Umanah further explained that all former governors of the state continue to enjoy the security privileges accorded to them by law.
“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel,” he said.
However, Emmanuel’s Special Assistant, Mr. Steve Abia, confirmed that the police officers attached to his principal had indeed been withdrawn.
“The reality on the ground is that if you go to the ex-governor’s residence right now, there are no police security men — that’s the truth,” Abia told The PUNCH. “But who withdrew them, I cannot say.”
Governor Eno, who succeeded Emmanuel in 2023 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, is widely regarded as Emmanuel’s political protégé. However, reports suggest that relations between the two have recently soured following Eno’s alleged defection to the All Progressives Congress.
Despite the speculation, Umanah maintained that the governor remains focused on governance.
“Governor Eno is committed to promoting peace, unity, and development across Akwa Ibom State. He will not be distracted by unfounded rumours,” he added.
