Umo Eno’s aide claims opposition sponsoring media attacks before 2027 election

Tony Okoh, Uyo

A media aide to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Venerable Richard Peters, has alleged that political opponents are sponsoring coordinated media attacks against the governor as part of efforts to weaken his administration ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Peters made the allegation in a post on his verified Facebook page, where he described the recent wave of criticism directed at Governor Eno across social media, electronic media and newspapers as a deliberate political strategy rather than routine public scrutiny.

According to him, the growing political activities ahead of the next election have intensified tensions in the state, with what he described as remnants of the opposition resorting to media campaigns instead of presenting alternative policy proposals to voters.

He argued that rather than offering a superior vision for governance, some opposition elements had chosen to embark on what he termed a coordinated effort to discredit the governor through sustained attacks across multiple communication platforms.

Peters maintained that Governor Eno’s increasing popularity across political, religious and social divides had unsettled certain political interests, adding that the administration’s programmes and policies had continued to attract support beyond party lines.

He further alleged that the attacks had gradually shifted from criticism of government policies to personal attacks on the governor and his family.

While acknowledging that citizens have a constitutional right to question government decisions and demand accountability, Peters stressed that democracy draws a clear line between constructive criticism and defamation.

According to him, dragging family members into political disputes, circulating unverified allegations and deliberately damaging personal reputations do not constitute legitimate opposition politics.

Defending the administration’s performance, Peters highlighted several projects and programmes undertaken by the Eno administration, including infrastructure development, housing initiatives, improvements in healthcare and education, agricultural interventions, youth empowerment schemes, payment of pension and gratuity obligations, as well as the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses.

He insisted that these achievements had delivered tangible benefits to residents across Akwa Ibom State and could not be erased by what he described as coordinated social media campaigns or sensational headlines.

The governor’s aide also cautioned that sustained negative portrayals of Akwa Ibom State could harm its reputation among investors, development partners and tourists, thereby undermining efforts to attract investment and accelerate development.

He urged political stakeholders to ensure that competition for power does not come at the expense of the state’s image and long-term development aspirations.

Peters also expressed confidence that Governor Eno would secure a second term in office in the 2027 governorship election, saying the people of Akwa Ibom were capable of distinguishing between political propaganda and the realities of governance.

As of the time of filing this report, neither opposition parties in Akwa Ibom State nor any individuals alleged by Peters to be behind the purported media campaign had responded to the claims.

The story is balanced by clearly attributing the allegations to the governor’s aide and noting that the opposition had not responded at the time of filing.