Political tensions in Akwa Ibom State have taken a fresh turn following a meeting between Governor Udom Emmanuel and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting comes amid growing disagreements between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly over campaign activities and allegations of political violence ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Reports had earlier suggested that Governor Emmanuel was summoned to the Presidential Villa over concerns about the political situation in Akwa Ibom and allegations of attacks on APC members and campaign materials.
Governor Emmanuel, however, rejected the description of the meeting as a presidential summons.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Ekerete Udoh, the governor described reports that President Buhari had summoned him over the issue as misleading.
He said the President’s schedule made such an interpretation of the meeting inappropriate.
APC Raises Alarm Over Political Tension
The development comes against the backdrop of heightened political activity in Akwa Ibom as the 2019 elections draw closer.
The APC had raised concerns over alleged attacks on its members and campaign materials in the state, while the PDP administration has rejected allegations of political persecution.
Among the incidents that had heightened tensions was an attack on the residence of former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who had recently defected from the PDP to the APC.
There were also reports of attacks involving campaign activities linked to APC governorship candidate Nsima Ekere and disputes over the erection and destruction of campaign billboards.
The controversy surrounding campaign billboards later led to the arrest of Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Environment, Iniobong Essien, although the PDP and the commissioner denied allegations that he ordered the destruction of President Buhari’s campaign billboard.
Tension Between APC And PDP
Governor Emmanuel had also publicly criticised the APC’s growing presence in Akwa Ibom, urging residents to reject the party ahead of the 2019 election.
In September, he questioned the record and campaign agenda of APC aspirants in the state, including Nsima Ekere, and argued that voters should demand clear programmes from those seeking their support.
The political atmosphere has consequently become increasingly competitive, with both parties seeking to consolidate their positions before the elections.
Claims Of A Political Understanding
Amid the political tension, claims also emerged that Governor Emmanuel was seeking an understanding with the Federal Government that would allow him to pursue his second-term ambition while supporting President Buhari’s re-election.
The governor’s meeting with President Buhari should therefore be distinguished from those allegations, particularly because Emmanuel publicly disputed the suggestion that he had been summoned to Abuja over the political crisis.
The meeting nonetheless comes at a sensitive period for Akwa Ibom, where the growing contest between the APC and PDP has produced disputes over campaign activities, political defections and the conduct of the 2019 elections.
With the election season gathering momentum, attention is now focused on how the state’s political actors and security agencies will manage the competing interests and prevent further escalation of tensions.
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