Akwa Ibom Govt Rejects Akpanudoedehe’s EFCC Claim, Warns Against Political Incitement
Reported By Facthabournews
The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected allegations by former senator John James Akpanudoedehe that Governor Umo Eno was responsible for the reported seizure of former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Lagos residence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The state government described the allegation as false and unsubstantiated, while warning political actors against making statements capable of creating tension or undermining the peace in Akwa Ibom.
The government made its position known in a statement issued on September 13, 2026, by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, following a social media video in which Akpanudoedehe allegedly made the claims against Governor Eno and his predecessor.
The government said it decided to respond because of what it described as the potential of the allegations to incite the public and create political tension in the state. The Commissioner said Governor Eno had never reported anyone, including former Governor Emmanuel, to the EFCC.
According to the statement, Governor Eno had maintained: “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 government said the governor’s position was consistent with what it described as his record of respecting former governors and pursuing reconciliation and political harmony.
It also pointed to Governor Eno’s decision to retain several officials who served under the previous administration and his continuation of projects initiated by former governors as evidence of his approach to governance.
The state government argued that these actions were inconsistent with the allegation that Governor Eno was pursuing former Governor Emmanuel or seeking to use federal agencies against him.
The controversy comes amid increasing political activity in Akwa Ibom ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political actors and groups positioning themselves for the next electoral contest.
The state government urged politicians to focus on issues of governance, development and the welfare of citizens rather than what it described as inflammatory allegations and attempts to reopen old political divisions.
It further accused Akpanudoedehe of seeking to revive memories of political conflicts associated with the build-up to the 2011 governorship election in the state.
According to the government, violence, destruction and arson occurred during that period, including damage to vehicles purchased for a mass transportation programme and other public assets. It alleged that Akpanudoedehe was subsequently arrested and prosecuted over allegations arising from the crisis.
The government said the history should not be erased in the course of current political debates, arguing that political actors seeking public office should also be prepared to answer questions about their past conduct.
It questioned whether Akwa Ibom should return to what it described as a politics of bitterness, destruction and instability.
The government also warned that Governor Eno’s stated commitment to reconciliation should not be interpreted as weakness or an invitation for political provocation.
It said the administration remained focused on its development agenda, including road and bridge construction, education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, aviation and social intervention programmes.
The government also highlighted the commissioning of 39 projects to mark Akwa Ibom State’s 39th anniversary as part of its argument that the administration’s attention remains focused on development rather than political confrontation.
The Commissioner for Information said the state government recognised the constitutional right of every citizen to participate in politics and seek elective office.
However, he maintained that political participation did not give individuals the right to spread allegations capable of threatening public peace or creating unnecessary tension.
The government therefore called on Akpanudoedehe and other political actors to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public statements.
It said Akwa Ibom would not allow political disagreements to undermine the peace and stability of the state, adding that the government would continue to protect the state’s tranquillity while concentrating on development.
The allegations concerning the EFCC and the former governor remain a matter of competing claims. The state government’s response does not, by itself, establish the circumstances surrounding any EFCC action involving property allegedly connected to former Governor Emmanuel. The government has specifically denied that Governor Eno reported his predecessor to the anti-graft agency.
The development has nevertheless added another layer to the political exchanges in Akwa Ibom as the 2027 election approaches.
Akpanudoedehe has previously been a major political figure in the state, including serving as a senator and holding national positions within the All Progressives Congress before contesting the 2023 Akwa Ibom governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. He polled 12,509 votes in that election, while Umo Eno won with 356,348 votes, according to the results reported by Vanguard.
The latest exchange between the former senator and the state government is therefore taking place against a broader background of political competition and realignment ahead of 2027.
The Akwa Ibom Government has maintained that its priority is to preserve peace while implementing its development programmes. It has urged political leaders and other stakeholders to avoid statements that could inflame ethnic, political or social tensions.
The government concluded its statement with an appeal for restraint and a warning that Akwa Ibom would not be dragged back into what it described as the politics of bitterness, destruction and instability.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of 2027, the latest controversy is likely to fuel further debate among political stakeholders in the state, with attention expected to remain focused on the competing claims and responses from the parties involved.
