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State government rejects local tabloid’s report of a face-off between Governor Umo Eno and his daughter, Helen Eno Obareki.
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Government denies claims that Obareki was suspended and locked out of the Office of the First Lady.
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Governor’s aide says she remains coordinator, citing her continued role in sustaining the late First Lady’s legacy.
October 13, (THEWILL) – The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed a report by a local tabloid alleging a face-off between Governor Umo Eno and his daughter, Mrs Helen Eno Obareki, which reportedly resulted in her suspension and being locked out of the Office of the First Lady.
The government described the allegations published by The Guide Newspaper, an Akwa Ibom-based tabloid, as false, insisting that Obareki remains the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady.
The denial followed the publication’s claims that the governor had suspended his daughter from the position and ordered her out of the office building, allegations the state government said were unfounded.
In a statement dated Monday, October 12, 2026 and made available to THEWILL, Pastor Solomon Essiet, Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, criticised the publication and questioned its adherence to professional journalistic standards.
Essiet maintained that Governor Eno had continued to publicly acknowledge Obareki as the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, adding that she had sustained the office’s activities following the death of her mother, the late Pastor Patience Umo Eno.
He cited the second memorial service held in honour of the late First Lady on September 26, 2026, at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, where the governor reportedly commended his daughter for her resilience and commitment to continuing her mother’s legacy.
The memorial service also featured the unveiling of a 100-page book authored by Obareki, titled The Patience to Build: Lessons from My Mother, which reflects on the life, values and influence of the late First Lady.
Essiet said the governor had continued to discharge his official responsibilities despite the personal loss, urging media organisations to verify allegations before publication.
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While acknowledging that public officials and government institutions were subject to scrutiny, he said journalists had a responsibility to uphold accuracy, fairness and the public interest.
“Public office certainly comes with scrutiny, and no one is suggesting that journalists should abandon their responsibility to hold government accountable”, Essiet said, arguing that responsible journalism should be distinguished from the publication of unverified allegations.
He also called for restraint in media reporting, warning against publications that could generate unnecessary controversy or undermine public confidence.
The government’s response comes amid public attention on the Office of the First Lady following the death of Patience Eno, whose humanitarian and social intervention programmes featured prominently during her time in office.
Essiet maintained that Obareki’s continued coordination of the office was part of efforts to sustain her late mother’s legacy, while reiterating the administration’s commitment to its governance agenda.
