Why Akwa Ibom Governor Dismissed Two Aides After PDP Convention in Ibadan

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, has dismissed two political aides who defied him to attend the just-concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The affected aides are Joseph Jacob Ikpak, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Support Services, and Felix Ekuri, Special Assistant on Neighbourhood Watch.

Their removal was announced on Monday in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Enobong Uwah, in Uyo.

According to Uwah, the decision formed part of the governor’s “ongoing restructuring exercise to align the machinery of government towards the success of the Renewed Hope and ARISE Agenda.”

However, administration insiders told Premium Times that the real reason for the sack was the aides’ participation in the PDP convention. Photos of both men at the Ibadan event have circulated widely on Facebook since the announcement.

Sources within Government House, Uyo, revealed that Governor Eno, visibly displeased with the development, has summoned all political aides to an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

“A notice for the meeting has already been sent out by the SSG,” a top official said, noting that tensions have grown within the administration.

Since Governor Eno defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June, his administration has been grappling with loyalty issues.

Many political appointees and commissioners are said to remain sympathetic to the PDP and loyal to his predecessor, former governor Udom Emmanuel.

The internal division has been fueled by disagreements over the sharing of political appointments between core APC members and those who crossed over from the PDP, including the governor.

Further highlighting the political rift, former commissioner Ini Ememobong, who resigned rather than follow Eno to the APC, was elected on Saturday at the PDP convention as the party’s national spokesperson.