Uyo, Nigeria – 4 October 2025
A once-cordial relationship between Akwa Ibom State’s current governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, has descended into a public feud, threatening the state’s political stability. The rift, sparked by Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2025, has escalated through proxy conflicts and a recent security withdrawal from Emmanuel’s residences, raising concerns about Akwa Ibom’s future as the 2027 elections loom.
Emmanuel, who governed from 2015 to 2023, handpicked Eno as his successor, ensuring a smooth PDP victory in 2023. Initially, Eno praised Emmanuel as his “political father,” and the duo maintained a public show of unity. However, Eno’s abrupt switch to the APC, citing the need to align with President Bola Tinubu’s federal government for projects like the Ibom Deep Seaport, shattered this harmony. Emmanuel, a PDP stalwart, remained in the party, creating a partisan divide.
Tensions flared in September 2025 when Eno’s aides warmly welcomed Emmanuel at Uyo’s airport during a family burial visit, prompting accusations of disloyalty from APC hardliners. The PDP’s subsequent dissolution of its Akwa Ibom executive and the defection of an Eno aide to the party’s caretaker committee further strained relations. The feud reached a new low on 4 October 2025, when police were withdrawn from Emmanuel’s homes in Uyo and Lagos—a move linked to Eno’s administration and seen as a direct slight against the former governor.
Public sentiment, particularly on social media, is divided. Critics accuse Eno of betraying Emmanuel and failing to deliver on governance, while supporters defend his APC alignment as pragmatic. Emmanuel’s silence fuels speculation of retaliatory plans, with rumours of PDP strategies to challenge Eno in 2027. As Akwa Ibom’s elite consensus frays, the rift risks reshaping the state’s political landscape, potentially affecting its long-standing power rotation tradition.
Eno insists there is “no problem” with Emmanuel, emphasising his “Akwa Ibom United” vision under the APC. However, with infrastructure projects like road expansions as his flagship, Eno faces pressure to deliver tangible results amidst this political storm. Observers warn that unresolved tensions could invite further instability, including potential anti-corruption probes or intra-party battles, as both camps vie for control ahead of the next election cycle.
