Governor bars Channels TV crew from Akwa Ibom Govt House

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has reportedly barred Channels Television crew from the Government House press centre in Uyo, the state capital.

Reports said that the governor barred Channels TV’s reporter and cameraman, Christopher Moffat and Kufre Ikpe, respectively, from the press centre over the broadcast of a video in which Eno publicly confirmed plans to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The footage, aired on Friday, May 23, 2025, was said to have caused embarrassment within the governor’s camp, prompting swift action from the state’s media handlers.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, reportedly summoned members of the press corps shortly after the broadcast.

Udoh warned members of the Government House press corps, including Channels TV crew, against airing the governor’s remarks.

Udoh subsequently told the Channels TV correspondent that the governor had barred him and his cameraman from the press centre.

“On Saturday morning, Ekerete called the Channels TV crew and informed them that the governor had barred them from the press centre.

A report by Premium.Times quoted a source to have said: “The governor was so furious, he wanted to sack Ekerete and disband the entire press corps.”

Moffat is said to have been the Channels TV correspondent at the Akwa Ibom State Government House for over 10 years.