Niger Delta

‘A’Ibom PDP Is Tired Of Elections’

Published

10 years ago

January 13, 2016

PDP supporters celebrating re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson in Bayelsa State governorship election, at the gate of the Government House in Yenagoa on Sunday.

Governor Udom
Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Saturday said Akwa Ibom Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is tired of conducting elections in the state.
Emmanuel was speaking during the programme for the Eket Senatorial District (ESD), Mega Rally in Eket Township Stadium.
He said that since he came on board, detractors had not allowed him to concentrate on developing the state to an enviable height.
Our correspondent reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had in December 2015 nullified the Akwa Ibom State governorship election of April 11.
At the election tribunal, Governor Emmanuel had secured partial victory with the election cancelled only in 18 out of the state’s 31 local government areas.
Meanwhile, the Appeal Court nullified the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election within 90 days.
The governor said: “since last year, we have not done anything, most of our people have not gone to farm, every year we are conducting elections.
“We are tired of elections, we want development, we don’t want elections, we can’t do elections for two years.’’
Emmanuel, however, expressed confidence that Supreme Court would upturn the Appeal Court judgment, which nullified his election.
“We are ready to defend this mandate, we have full confidence in the Supreme Court of Nigeria because Supreme Court is equal to justice, that is why we are not afraid,’’ he said.
Emmanuel said that the election that brought him as the governor of the state stood on equity, justice and unity of the state.
Also speaking, Chief Paul Ekpo, state Chairman of PDP, said that Eket Senatorial District would support democracy in the state.
Ekpo thanked the Eket Senatorial District for not disappointing the party in the last governorship election in the state.
He, however, expressed confidence that the Governor Emmanuel of PDP would perform than any other governorship candidates in the state.
“I am very happy the district gave us a credible candidate that the PDP took over and today things are getting better in Akwa Ibom.
“Today the uncommon development of Akwa Ibom is sustained; today we are proud of you as a party, we say congratulations,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Nduesse Essien, the Chairman of the occasion, said that the rally was to give unflinching and unalloyed support to Governor Emmanuel that was elected as governor in the April 11, 2015 elections.
He reassured that the district would always stand by the governor before, during and after the election process.
Essien stated that the emergence of the governor was the mandate of people, adding that the crowd present at the event showed the level of support given to the governor.
“I want to assure you and to encourage you to remain steadfast and wait for whatever happens; we will be up to the task and we will succeed,’’ Essien said.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.