Governor Eno Denies Seizing Predecessor Emmanuel’s House With EFCC

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has denied having any rift with his immediate predecessor and political godfather, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, ahead of the 2027 general elections which he is seeking reelection.

The Governor made the clarification in response to allegations leveled against him by the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator John James Akpanudoehe, who accused him of having a running battle with his political godfather and mentor, Deacon Emmanuel.

Addressing Journalists in his country home in Uyo, the State capital at the weekend, after flagging – off his campaign, the former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disclosed that Governor Eno, was using the anti – graft agency to haunt the man who braved all the odds to install him as his successor in 2023.

He recalled that “Governor Eno, used to kneel and beg former Governor Emmanuel,” in the run – up to becoming the Governor, but regretted that such respect had been politically jettisoned as both have returned to different trenches in supremacy battle the detection of the Governor on June 6, 2026.

“If you want me to be such sycophantic Governor , I won’t,” he retorted, disclosing that courtesy of the Governor in alliance with other key political parties in the ruling APC, the EFCC has seized the former Governor’s residence in Lagos.

He also alleged that the current administration in the State has received over 2 trillion Naira since inception, but squandered on egoistic ventures that makes no meaning to the lives of common citizens.

“The State is rich, but the people are poor,” he lamented, and urged the people to effectively and dispassionately assess the policies and programmes of the administration before committing their full trust and fate in the hands of the managers.

Besides, he faulted the delay in the implementation of the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport at Ibaka in Mbo local government area, arguing that lack of sincerity and political will by government have combined to stall the project, instead of the much talked about host community dispute.

Besides, the former National Secretary of the the ruling APC, accused Governor Eno, of running what he described as an apartheid government with no human face, using the Treasury Single Account (TSA) ploy trap the cash and starve the system of funds under the pretext of blocking leakages.

But responding, Governor Eno denied the allegations including fighting his predecessor.

“I make bold to say that I have never reported anyone, talk more of my predecessor in office, to the EFCC. I stand to be challenged or contradicted,” the Governor stated.

Added to this, the Information Commissioner, Dr. Aniekan Umanah, dismissed the allegation as unfounded, maintaining that “this categorical position underscores the baseless nature of the allegation.”

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Government has been drawn to a recent social media video in which Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, made grave and completely unsubstantiated allegations against Governor Umo Eno and former Governor Udom Emmanuel, including the claim that the Governor caused the EFCC to seize the former Governor’s Lagos residence.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Umo Eno has never reported anyone to the EFCC. The facts of Governor Eno’s conduct speak for themselves. He has consistently demonstrated respect for his predecessors and made genuine efforts towards reconciliation, including facilitating engagements at the highest levels of government in the country in the interest of peace and political harmony,” Umanah stressed.