Security Withdrawal Exposes Deepening Political Rift Between Former Governor Udom Emmanuel and Successor Umo Eno in Akwa Ibom State

A simmering political conflict in Akwa Ibom State has erupted into the public eye, following the abrupt withdrawal of security personnel assigned to the residences of former Governor Udom Emmanuel. Analysts view the move as a punitive measure in the escalating political fallout between Emmanuel and his successor, Governor Umo Eno.

According to a directive obtained by reporters, the order, labeled Order 472 and dated September 30, 2025, instructed police operatives stationed at Emmanuel’s homes to withdraw on October 1 and report to the Police Headquarters in Uyo for debriefing. The instruction, signed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police acting for the Chief Security Officer at the Government House, Uyo, reportedly extended to other former officials who declined to join the ruling party.

Efforts to clarify the withdrawal yielded conflicting statements. Commissioner of Police Baba Azare denied that the withdrawal occurred, while Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah professed ignorance, asserting the order “cannot be from the state government.” 

Nevertheless, reporters confirmed the absence of security personnel at Emmanuel’s Awa Iman country residence and his Ewet Housing Estate apartment, underlining the unfolding security vacuum.

Observers note that this development is the latest manifestation of a political battle that has been intensifying since June 2025, when Governor Eno 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 immediately strained relations between Eno and Emmanuel, who Eno had previously recognized as his political “godfather.”

The feud escalated further as Eno, now a member of the APC, vowed to maintain control over the PDP state apparatus to prevent it from being wielded against him by Emmanuel and his supporters. The political friction has since resulted in high-level interventions, including the PDP National Working Committee dissolving the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and establishing a caretaker committee, moves interpreted as efforts to curb Governor Eno’s influence and regain control of the state chapter.

Traditionally, security details are allocated to former and serving state officials under the Governor’s discretion. The withdrawal of Emmanuel’s security, however, signals a sharp intensification of the conflict and underscores the personal and political animosities now shaping Akwa Ibom’s governance. Political analysts warn that this public showdown could significantly reshape the state’s political trajectory, raising questions about the balance of power, party loyalty, and the safety of former officeholders in the evolving political landscape.