July 4 (THEWILL) — As the 2027 election 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. Truth is, these sponsored media campaigns will fail again.
It is a well-known fact that in every democracy, political contestation is expected, and opposition parties have a legitimate responsibility to scrutinise those in government. However, what is currently seen in some quarters goes beyond constructive opposition. 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.
Despite these attacks, the governor is still receiving support across party lines daily, and will be on record that Gov. Eno is the only governor in the history of Akwa Ibom State who will ride to the Hilltop Mansion without any opposition for his second term. This is because of his superlative performance, timely delivery of his campaign promises and execution of his ARISE Agenda across all local government areas fairly.
The growing acceptance of this administration across political, religious, and social divides, with many who once considered opposing him now acknowledging his performance and choosing collaboration over confrontation, is what is making the opposition remnants fidget.
Having apparently realised the enormous challenge of confronting a governor whose performance has attracted widespread public commendation, they seem to have concluded that if they cannot defeat the administration on the strength of governance, they should attempt to weaken it through relentless propaganda.
Consequently, social media platforms, electronic media outlets, print publications, and other communication channels have become avenues for spreading insinuations, distortions, and allegations carefully designed to undermine public confidence in the governor.
Akwa Ibom people, however, are politically mature enough to distinguish between genuine criticism and orchestrated propaganda. They understand that criticism, when founded on facts, strengthens democracy by promoting accountability. What they are witnessing today, unfortunately, is a deliberate campaign of calumny that seeks to replace facts with falsehoods, governance with gossip, and public discourse with personal attacks.
However, the growing acceptance of Gov. Umo Eno will, understandably, continue to unsettle some of these political interests. Unable to identify a formidable electoral challenger capable of matching the governor’s popularity and performance in the forthcoming election, some of these unscrupulous elements appear to have embraced media warfare as their preferred political strategy. Their objective is obvious: to diminish public confidence in the governor by manufacturing controversies where none exist.
Sadly, this campaign has increasingly shifted away from governance into the dangerous territory of character assassination. Instead of interrogating government policies with facts and evidence, attention is now directed at the governor’s personal and private life. Such tactics contribute nothing to democratic development. They merely poison public discourse and lower the standard of political engagement.
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. They are calculated attempts to destroy character rather than debate issues.
Remarkably, despite sustained provocations, Governor Umo Eno has continued to maintain unusual restraint and composure. His measured disposition has reflected political maturity and emotional discipline. Yet even the most patient leaders deserve protection from sustained campaigns built on falsehood and personal abuse.
Tolerance should never be mistaken for weakness.
More importantly, those orchestrating these attacks appear to be confronted by an uncomfortable reality: there is very little substance upon which to build credible criticism of the administration’s developmental record. This perhaps explains why governance is increasingly ignored while propaganda occupies centre stage.
Across the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State, infrastructure development has continued at an impressive pace. Roads connecting communities and stimulating economic activities have been constructed and rehabilitated, significantly improving transportation and opening new opportunities for commerce and investment. These are tangible projects that citizens encounter daily.
Housing delivery has equally become one of the administration’s defining achievements. With well over 1,400 housing units reportedly delivered through various intervention programmes, many vulnerable citizens have experienced improved living conditions. Beyond providing shelter, these initiatives restore dignity, reduce social inequality, and improve the quality of life for countless families.
The administration has also recorded notable interventions in healthcare, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and social welfare. Through investments in food production and agricultural support programmes, the government has strengthened food security while creating employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain. Similarly, educational infrastructure, healthcare services, grants, skills acquisition, and empowerment initiatives continue to touch lives across the state.
Recent additions to the state’s transportation system, including the delivery of new CNG buses, further demonstrate an administration seeking practical solutions to the transportation needs of citizens while embracing cleaner and more sustainable technology.
Rather than receiving an objective assessment, however, even such initiatives have become targets of needless criticism.
Likewise, the completion and delivery of over 1,300 kilometres of roads, the settlement of outstanding pension and gratuity obligations, as well as continuous empowerment programmes for various segments of society, have produced measurable benefits for ordinary citizens. These are concrete achievements that cannot simply be erased through coordinated social media campaigns or sensational headlines.
It is therefore understandable why many citizens of Akwa Ibom State believe that the opposition’s frustration stems less from government failure than from the administration’s visible developmental footprint. Faced with achievements that resonate with the electorate, those at the opposing end appear to have substituted policy alternatives with campaigns of misinformation and relentless attempts to discredit both the governor and those who support him.
What makes this trend particularly unfortunate is that the consequences extend beyond partisan politics. Persistent efforts to portray Akwa Ibom as a state engulfed in crisis ultimately damage the collective image of the state itself. Investors, development partners, tourists, and potential businesses pay attention to public narratives. When false impressions are deliberately amplified, the state’s economic reputation suffers alongside its political environment.
This is why the issue transcends the personality of Governor Umo Eno. 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.
No democracy flourishes where propaganda consistently replaces truth. Political actors should compete through ideas, credible manifestos, policy alternatives, and constructive engagement with the electorate. Resorting to fabricated narratives, coordinated insults, and personal attacks only weakens democratic culture while diminishing public confidence in politics itself.
The people of Akwa Ibom are neither uninformed nor easily manipulated. They have witnessed developments across communities, interacted with government programmes, and experienced the impact of ongoing projects. Consequently, they are capable of separating political propaganda from observable reality.
The current media attack, therefore, is unlikely to produce the intended outcome because citizens already understand the script behind it.
It is time for those orchestrating these sustained media attacks to have a second thought. Politics should never become a campaign against the collective interest of the state. Constructive criticism will always be welcomed in every healthy democracy, but organised falsehoods, character assassination, and attempts to discourage investment in Akwa Ibom serve no patriotic purpose.
The people have seen through the game plan, and just as similar strategies have failed in the past, this latest campaign of propaganda will equally fail because truth, performance, and the collective interest of Akwa Ibom will ultimately prevail.
These powerless remnants of the opposition party should henceforth refrain from insulting the governor, or face similar attacks and insults on their personalities. Enough is enough.
Finally, history itself provides useful context. Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, no governor in Akwa Ibom State has been denied the opportunity of completing 8 years in office. Governor Umo Eno is therefore not an exception. He will win the 2027 election with ease and continue to deliver all he promised to do, and more, in the overall interest of the Akwa Ibom people.
Richard Perters is a public affairs analyst and writes from Uyo
