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.
