Ex-Gov Emmanuel’s Visit to Akwa Ibom Unsettles Akpabio’s Camp

The return of former Governor Udom Emmanuel to Akwa Ibom State on Thursday has stirred fresh political undercurrents, unsettling the camp of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Mr Emmanuel, who governed Akwa Ibom between 2015 and 2023, had largely retired from the political scene after leaving office, relocating to Lagos where he returned to private life following his two terms as governor. His quiet profile was disrupted this week when he paid a visit to his hometown, Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area, for the burial of his cousin.

The visit, his first since Governor Umo Eno his political protégé and immediate successor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has triggered heated political interpretations.

Mr Emmanuel’s arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, was marked by an elaborate reception as several politicians and government appointees, including many who served in his administration, trooped out to welcome him. Some current officials under Governor Eno’s government openly identified with the former governor, an act Akpabio’s loyalists have reportedly interpreted as a symbolic reaffirmation of loyalty to Mr Emmanuel.

Political observers say the optics of the visit could reshape alignments in Akwa Ibom politics, which has long been dominated by the rivalry between Mr Akpabio, a former governor and now Senate President, and Mr Emmanuel.

While Governor Eno was absent from the reception due to official engagements, his aides and allies were visibly present. Insiders close to the Akpabio camp described the move as “a subtle declaration of allegiance” to Mr Emmanuel at a time when the APC is pushing to consolidate control in the state.

Analysts note that Emmanuel’s reemergence could re-energise the PDP structure in the state and complicate Akpabio’s efforts to assert supremacy in the political space, especially with 2027 elections already casting shadows over the landscape.

For now, Mr Emmanuel has not made any political statements, but his presence alone appears to have reignited old rivalries and opened fresh debates on shifting loyalties within Akwa Ibom’s political establishment.