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kwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno accused of using coconut refinery probe to witch-hunt Udom Emmanuel

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6 months ago

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A socio cultural group Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Akwa Ibom has written an open letter to Governor Umo Eno indicting him of using Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe his predecessor ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The letter is sequel to the setting up of a panel by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the ownership of St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery by Akwa Ibom State, House of Assembly.

Part of the letter read: “Your Excellency, we aware of the recent development in Akwa Ibom State, where Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is initiating a process to probe the ownership of St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery in Mkpat Enin – one of the legacy projects of your predecessor and benefactor ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.

While we will not query your decision to use Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the records and deeds of your predecessor, we will however seek your company as we saunter on the paved lane of history of governance in Akwa Ibom State since the inception of our current democracy in 1999.”

The group accused the Governor of pursuing selective justice in Akwa Ibom State by choosing to probe Coconut Refinery ignoring the glaring reckless spending during Akpabio’s administration.

“Interestingly, throughout the second term of Chief Godswill Akpabio–your newly adopted political grandfather– he budgeted billions of naira yearly for industrialization of Akwa Ibom State, yet he left office in 2015 without any single industry to show where such state’s fund approved by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly were spent on.

“Also, in September 2008, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the then governor of Akwa Ibom State, had signed a N33 Billion contract agreement with Silver Bird Group for the construction of Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre. The centre was proposed to be modern class leisure and business resort that would provide employment opportunities for over 5000 Akwa Ibom people according to Akpabio. Based on available records, Chief Akpabio spent close to N68 Billion on Tropicana yet the project was never completed.

“Sadly, In 2019, Chief Godswill Akpabio openly accused Ben Bruce of Bayelsa of defrauding Akwa Ibom State, billions of naira by abandoning Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre in Akwa Ibom State. Even the equipment that were procured for the entertainment centre were destroyed yet no one had the courage to probe such era of financial recklessness in Akwa Ibom State.”

Ibom Akwa Ibom recalled that ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel never had any cause to probe his predecessor despite their political differences.

“Although ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel had his personal differences with Chief Godswill Akpabio, he rather prefer to be busy with crystalizing his vision for Akwa Ibom State than to spend his few years in office to dig into the records of his predecessor.

“Today, your administration has suddenly considered it wise to sink again billions of state’s funds to revamp Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre without caring to set up a panel to investigated how previous funds sunk into the project were spent. Even Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not consider it pertinent to probe how N68 billion was spent on the Tropicana Entertainment Centre before approving new funds for the project. ”

The group urged Governor Eno to be conscious of the fact that his administration will equally be probed after his exit from office.

“Your Excellency, be reminded that this same people that are pushing you to probe your predecessor also pushed Chief Goodwill Akpabio to probe Obong Attah but he refused, they equally pushed Mr Udom Emmanuel to probe Chief Akpabio yet he refused even when he had tangible evidences to back such probe. Today, you have finally fallen into the ditch by accepting to be used against your predecessor.

“In summation, Your Excellency, we do not intend to by our letter to stop you from probing an administration that you were part of but we wish you reiterate to your consciousness that you will be equally investigated after your fickle years as the governor of Akwa Ibom State. ”

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Only 10 percent? – Wike expresses shock over voters turnout in FCT polls

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1 day ago

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February 23, 2026

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lamented over the low turnout in some polling units in the ongoing Area Council Elections.

Wike shared his disappointment while touring some polling units and interacting with electoral officials.

At a polling unit in Karshi, the minister met a few electoral officials, but there were no voters.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wike asked: ”How is the turnout?”, to which the ad-hoc official, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said: ”We have only about 10 per cent of registered voters who came out to vote.”

The Minister further asked: ”Only 10 percent? When are you supposed to start counting?”

”By 2:30pm, sir,” the corps member responded, to which Wike said: ”Hopefully, there will be another 20 per cent.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Moses Paul, had earlier blamed the low turnout on the restriction of movement.

He said the turnout was far lower than expected and attributed it to what he described as confusion created by the restriction directive.

He said he had lived in AMAC for about 40 years and had never witnessed such a situation, noting that the development appeared like “a state of emergency” over what he considered unwarranted.

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Lagos APC defends Tinubu’s assent to Electoral Act 2026

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4 days ago

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February 20, 2026

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The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted the backlash that followed President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026, describing the criticism as politically motivated and disconnected from the country’s national interest.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC said it observed with “undisguised disappointment” what it characterised as an orchestrated outcry by sections of the opposition over the President’s approval of the amended law.

The party maintained that governance is a constitutional duty that must be exercised with prudence and responsibility, not shaped by popularity contests, social media pressure or political theatrics.

Opposition groups had expressed reservations about provisions of the amended Act, particularly those relating to the transmission of election results, arguing that the law does not guarantee real-time electronic transmission.

However, the Lagos APC rejected what it called a “romanticised and misleading narrative” surrounding real-time transmission models.

According to the party, experiences from other democracies that adopted similar systems revealed significant challenges, including technological failures, cybersecurity risks, legal uncertainties and judicial reversals.

It warned against prioritising political convenience over the long-term integrity of electoral institutions.

The APC also questioned the assumption that opposition parties possess superior insight into electoral reform, stressing that reform is not the “intellectual property” of any political bloc.

“The idea that electoral reform wisdom resides exclusively with the opposition is flawed,” the statement said, adding that President Tinubu’s assent followed due constitutional process, extensive legislative debate and institutional consultations.

The party described the President’s action as an exercise of prudence rather than panic, insisting that reforms must be “thoughtful, sustainable and legally defensible, not reactionary or driven by social media pressure.”

While acknowledging the importance of opposition in a democratic system, the Lagos APC cautioned against what it described as the weaponisation of public sentiment and melodramatic distortions of policy decisions.

“Democracy thrives on credibility and institutional durability, not noise,” the party said. “Electoral integrity cannot be built on fragile systems designed more for headlines than long-term stability.”

The APC added that Nigeria deserves reforms that strengthen democratic institutions without exposing them to avoidable constitutional, legal and logistical risks, especially given existing infrastructural challenges across the country.

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