July 4 (THEWILL) — A media aide to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Richard Peters, has alleged that coordinated media attacks against the governor are being sponsored by political opponents in an attempt to undermine his administration ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Peters made the allegation in a post on his verified Facebook page, where he claimed that recent criticisms of the governor across social media, electronic and print media were “neither accidental nor difficult to decipher”.
“As the 2027 election gradually draws near, the political atmosphere in Akwa Ibom State is becoming increasingly charged, with the remnants of the factional opposition party engaging in media war rather than constructive criticism”, he wrote.
According to him, the alleged campaign goes beyond legitimate opposition politics and is aimed at weakening public confidence in the governor instead of presenting alternative policies to the electorate.
“Rather than presenting superior ideas, alternative policies or a compelling vision capable of convincing the electorate, some fragments of the opposition appear to have settled for a coordinated media attack against Governor Umo Eno, using every channel at their disposal”, Peters stated.
He argued that the governor’s growing acceptance across political, religious and social divides had unsettled some political interests, claiming that the administration’s performance had continued to attract support beyond party affiliations.
Peters further alleged that the attacks had shifted from criticism of government policies to personal attacks on the governor.
“Every responsible democracy recognises a clear distinction between criticism and defamation. Citizens have every right to question government decisions and demand accountability.
“However, dragging families into political disputes, spreading unverified allegations and deliberately maligning personal reputations are neither democratic virtues nor legitimate opposition politics”, he said.
Defending the administration’s performance, Peters cited infrastructure development, housing programmes, healthcare, education, agriculture, youth empowerment initiatives, payment of pension and gratuity obligations, as well as the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as evidence of the government’s achievements.
He maintained that the projects had produced measurable benefits for residents across the state and insisted that “these are concrete achievements that cannot simply be erased through coordinated social media campaigns or sensational headlines.”
The governor’s aide also warned that persistent negative portrayals of Akwa Ibom could damage the state’s image among investors, development partners and tourists.
“It is fundamentally about protecting the integrity, reputation and developmental aspirations of Akwa Ibom State. Political competition should never become an excuse for tarnishing the image of the very state whose progress every stakeholder claims to desire”, he added.
Peters expressed confidence that Governor Eno would secure re-election in 2027, arguing that the people of the state were capable of distinguishing between “political propaganda and observable reality.”
Neither the opposition parties in Akwa Ibom State nor individuals alleged by Peters to be behind the purported media campaign had responded to the claims as of the time this report was filed.
