The visit of former Governor Udom Emmanuel to Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, September 5, 2025, is already heating up the political dynamics of the State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This follows the open courtesies accorded him by some key appointees of Governor Umo Eno, a development that has seriously caused jitters in the political camp of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who hitherto assumed that the State is already in his pocket with the sitting governor defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Emmanuel, who arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, in a chartered jet, was received by politicians in the state with fanfare by the mass of the people that turned out among them appointees and close political allies of Governor Eno at both the airport and the village of former Governor Emmanuel which clearly showed where their loyalty and allegiance belong.
The development made the camp of Akpabio to start having a rethink of the political arrangement and understanding in the State ahead of 2027.
Ex-governor Emmanuel, who retired to a private life in Lagos since leaving office in 2023, visited his hometown, Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area to attend his cousin’s burial. The visit was his first since leaving office and handing over to his successor, Governor Eno, whom he assisted to become governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but defected to the APC this year.
However, the former governor declared that he was not in the state for politics, but for his cousin’s burial, saying; “at the right time, I would return and give direction on the 2027 elections”.
Expectedly, the pictures and videos of the appointees of Governor Eno who received the former governor flooded the social media space on Thursday, which clearly rattled Akpabio’s camp as some of the pro-Akpabio expressed displeasure at the participation of the appointees of Governor Eno in the welcome ceremony and the visit to the hometown of Emmanuel.
One of those that reacted to the rousing welcome accorded Emmanuel was Aniete Ekong, media aide to Akpabio, who said that he found the development quite disturbing.
“In the words of Ekong; “What I found most disturbing and concerning are the appointees of Governor Eno who trooped out to welcome their former boss and rubbed it on our faces where their allegiance and loyalty stand.
“They stumbled over themselves to take selfies with the former governor and without qualms splashed them on our faces in the social media that their bodies may be with Governor Eno, but their hearts are with Mr Emmanuel.
“Truth is, some of them are moles in the administration of Governor Eno. For the political appointees of Governor Eno, their political loyalty was tested and they minced no words in telling us where their loyalty lies.
“Now, going into an election in 2027, this is very dangerous. Truth is, you cannot serve former Governor Udom Emmanuel, the leader of PDP in Akwa Ibom, and also serve Governor Umo Eno, the leader of APC in Akwa Ibom, at the same time and unashamedly rub it on our faces.
“People have argued that the reception for the former governor was not political. This may well be so. But what I also saw was PDP flags being waved by the supporters of the former governor. And you still say it was not political,” Ekong said.
He also noted that one of the appointees openly declared that Governor Eno cannot “do jack” as the governor had assured that he would not discriminate against them based on their political beliefs
“Do not get me wrong. People have the right to choose whatever political party they wish to belong to. But it is unacceptable for the appointees of Governor Eno to dilly dally or, for whatever reason, frolic with the former governor.
“This is me calling out the appointees of Governor Umo Eno to state today, whom they shall serve: their present boss or the former boss”, Ekong stated.
