The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports claiming that Governor Umo Eno ordered the withdrawal of security personnel attached to his predecessor, former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Addressing journalists at the Government House in Uyo, the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, described the allegations as “false, misleading, and without any basis in fact.”
Umanah explained that the deployment or withdrawal of police officers is not within the jurisdiction 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,” he stated.
He added that all former governors of Akwa Ibom continue to enjoy their legally approved security details.
“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former governor or their aides about the withdrawal of security personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it,” Umanah noted.
The commissioner urged the public to disregard the reports, stressing that Governor Eno remains focused on promoting peace, unity, and good governance across the state.
Although Emmanuel played a significant role in Eno’s emergence as governor under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, their relationship is believed to have become strained in recent months following Eno’s reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
