Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has barred the Channels Television crew from the Government House Press Centre in Uyo following the station’s broadcast of a video clip in which he openly confirmed plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development comes after Channels Television aired footage of the governor’s remarks on Friday.
It is understood that the broadcast embarrassed the governor.
According to sources within the Government House, the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Ekerete Udoh, summoned members of the press corps following the broadcast and cautioned them against further dissemination of the video.
“On Saturday morning, Ekerete (Udoh) called the Channels TV crew, and (he) informed them that the governor has barred them from the press centre,” a source said.
“The governor was so furious, he wanted to sack Ekerete and disband the entire press corps.”
The eviction affects Channels Television’s long-serving Government House correspondent, Christopher Moffat, and the station’s cameraman, Kufre Ikpe.
Notably, the decision comes just days after Channels TV Chairman and CEO, Mr John Momoh, visited Governor Eno at the Government House during the recently concluded Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Week in Uyo.
The governor’s remarks that triggered the reaction from the government were made during a meeting held Thursday at the Government House. Though the session was initially convened to review ongoing government projects, it quickly turned political.
In an address to members of the State Executive Council, Governor Eno made it clear that any cabinet member unwilling to follow him to the APC should prepare to step down.
“We want our commissioners and members of Exco, appointees, and those of you who are saying that you would not come, you are free absolutely not to join me, but you won’t be in my State Executive Council,” the governor said.
“Prepare to resign the day I announced that I am moving because you cannot; you are an appointee, and your loyalty is fully to me. You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party. It is what it is,” he added.
The governor cited internal disputes within the PDP, particularly the unresolved litigation over the party’s National Secretary position, as the key reason for his planned defection.
He also declared that he would not relinquish control of the PDP structure in Akwa Ibom, a stance believed to put him in conflict with his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who is reportedly not aligning with the APC shift.
According to sources, Governor Eno’s official defection is expected to take place in early June.
