2027: Udoedehe Emerges ADC's governorship Candidate

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

Sen. John James Udoedehe has emerged the African Democratic Party's (ADC) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. 

This was announced by the State Chairman of the ADC Primaries Election Committe, Titus Ejor on Sunday, May 24, 2026, following the conduct of the primaries on Friday, May 22, 2026.

Udoedehe who pulled a total of 66,099 votes against his opponent, Barr. Mfon Udeme who had 103 votes, was subsequently declared winner of the Party's governorship primary.

"Based on this result, may I officially declare Sen. John James Udoedehe as winner of the governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom State, congratulations ", he said.

In his acceptance speech, the governorship candidate thanked Party faithful for trusting him to lead them and for coming out enmasse to support his bid.

He promised a viable alternative to the current administration of the State, while hinting on his agenda.

Udoedehe who called out the ruling government said he was ready to take power from them.

"I am an opposition person who wants to take power from you. You've turned our young men into old men with grey hairs...you don't have a policy to move people out of poverty that is why we want to change you", he expressed. 

"We're coming to build Akwa Ibom people from your deliberate policy of poverty to affluence", he added. 

"We're coming to hold you accountable. Opposition is not your enemy. We're coming to put you on your toes. It is our constitutional responsibility to show you what you've not done right", he stated firmly.

The ADC governorship candidate further commended the Committee for being diligent in the discharge of their duties, while pledging loyalty to the Party. 

Congratulating other candidates, the Primaries Election Committe Chairman lauded members of the Party for conducting themselves orderly throughout the primaries, noting that their composure was worthy of commendation. 

For the senatorial primaries,  Patience Ibanga Akpabio emerged winner of Akwa Ibom North-West; Sunday Umoren won for North-East and Louis Paul Udoh clinched the Akwa Ibom South tickets,  respectfully.

For the House of Representatives ticket, Jackson Emem Daniel won the Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Constituency seat; Hanson Paul clinched Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo; John Gabriel emerged for Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Okobo/Urue-Offong Oruko; Barr. Akaninyene Udofa won for Oruk Anam/Ukanafun; Chris Sunday George emerged for Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno; Alfred Umoh owned Ikono/Ini; Nnamonso David won for Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo; Nsikak Umoeka won Itu/Ibiono-Ibom; Ofonime Johnson Inyang emerged for Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika; and Isaac Asuquo clinched the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Constituency seats, respectively. 

Winners of the 26 State Constituency  who were returend unopposed are: Paul Sunday Udoh (Onna), Kelvin Ime (Uruan), Ubong Udoh Akpan (Ikono), Emmanuel Stephen Peters (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolon), Edemiko Ita Dan (Nsit Atai), Lucky Sunday Enang (Ukanafun), Etimbuk Ime Akpan (Abak), Inemesit Mitchell Nkereuwem (Essien Udim), Isaac Udoidiong Ibanga (Ikot Ekpene), Patrick Sambo William (Uyo), Akaninyene Boniface Etim (Ibiono-Ibom), Inem Kufre (Etinan), Idongesit Amos (Mkpat Enin), Jude Linus (Ika), Innocent Okoro (Oruk Anam), Emmanuel Isine (Eket), Saviour Monday (Nsit Ubium), Daniel Michael (Nsit Ibom), Archibong Duke (Esit Eket), Otu Monday (Ibeno), Enwono Etim John (Etim Ekpo), Valentine Okon (Okobo), Victor Frank (Orueffong Oruko), Mercy Edeke (Oron/Udung Uko), Joseph Okon Etim (Mbo) and Archibong Bassey (Itu).

2027: My Govt would be one of the most progressive ever - Udoedehe declares

...set for ADC guber primaries today

By Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot

Sen. James Akpan Udoedehe has again thrown his hat in the ring for the 2027 governorship election. This time, on the platform of the African Democratic Party (ADC) whose governorship primaries hold today.

Sen. Udoedehe who spoke to newsmen in his home yesterday promised a progressive and prosperous government if given the opportunity to man the affairs of the State.

"My government would be one of the most progressive and prosperous ever. Just try me" he said, and appealed for support.

“My repeated governorship bids are driven by concern for the people. Now, look around the State, there is poverty and unemployment everywhere. Therefore, I am inspired by my love for the people to contest as a governor. If I get in, I will hit the ground running and in four years, I would have achieved the best for the people", he added.

Clearing misconceptions about the number of times he's contested election in the State, the former governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) said he had only appeared twice on the ballot.

“To be a candidate, you must win your party’s nomination. On that premise, I have only been on the ballot twice; therefore, my gubernatorial candidacy has only been twice. Other times were not me”, he stressed.

He also countered allegations of selling out in previous elections, insisting that he had always fought for victory rather than compromise.

“I have never sold an election. I fought for elections. There is no government in Akwa Ibom State, past or present, that can pay me N100 million to compromise. If they attempt it, that would be empowering your enemy to fight you, so who would want to do that?”, he questioned.

Recalling his roles in the power play of the State and the resultant effect, Udoedehe advised the younger generation against getting involved in destructive politics.

"Don't allow anyone ask you to kill for them because of election. Don't be an instrument of destruction. Do unto others what you'll want them to do to you. Karma is real ", he charged.

Udoedehe who was elected Senator of Akwa Ibom North-East in 1999 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has been Minister of State for the FCT. 

 He later moved to the All Progressive Congress (APC) and became the Interim National Secretary of the Party and a member of its Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

He was the ACN governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom in 2011 and later ran for governor under NNPP in 2023 after defecting from the APC.

Nyeneime Andy Mobilizes One Million Voters for Tinubu, Akpabio, Umo Eno

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The former State Chairman of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Apostle Nyeneime Andy has mobilized one million voters in support of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno's second term election in 2027.

The mobilization rally took place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Villa Hilton Hotel in Uyo.

Andy who is the lead Pastor at Holy Ghost Ambassadors Church in Uyo and Abuja said the movement was endorsing the three candidates on grounds of their result-driven leadership.

"The purpose of the 1 million voters movement is a simple yet powerful tool to mobilize responsible citizens, conscious voters and progressive minds towards leadership that guarantees peace", he said.

"This is why we stand in public to endorse the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a friend, a colleague, a Pastor; and we endorse the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic and we also endorse President Tinubu. If you don't like it what can you do about it?", he queried. 

"We do this because leadership must be supported. Lions do not fight like Lions because they understand territory and preservation", he submitted. 

While responding to criticisms about his involvement in politics as a clergyman, Apostle Andy responded thus:

"My answer is simple; it's because the church is in the society and we're members of the society. We are not called only to pray for the society, we are also called to influence the society so today, we must speak", he said.

The National Coordinator of the One Million Voters Movement therefore called on his people to get their Permanent Voters' Card (PVCs) ready in preparedness for the election. 

Earlier in their separate remarks, the former Vice Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Pst. Sylvia Ekong and State Secretary of the Movement, Pst. John Udoh expressed confidence that the course they were embarking on was a worthy one which would lead them, the State and country at large to a positive end. 

The rally featured an endorsement of the three candidates by the Ikot Ekpene,  Eket and Uyo Senatorial district men and women leaders of the Movement, as well as a motion of continuity in office.

It was attended by One Million Voters across Akwa Ibom State who were represented by their Chapter leaders and representatives.

UUTH Strike: CMD makes case for Patients with delicate health conditions

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The Chief Medical Director at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. EmemAbasi Bassey has appealed to striking Unions in the facility to end their industrial action taken as a measure of safety, in the face of the assault on some of their members by the men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Prof. Bassey made the appeal on behalf of Patients in critical health conditions at the ICU, Accident and Emergency Unit as well as the Special Care Baby Unit, whom he said will die if not attended to promptly.

"What I'm saying is that as healthcare providers, we are. primarily service providers who cater for people's health and it is a very sad thing that we cannot save the patients we took an oath to preserve and protect their lives. Circumstances have forced us not to do so", he lamented.

This was on Wednesday, while he was addressing a Press Conference regarding the EFCC's invasion and assault on health workers the previous day.

According to him, UUTH is a federal government institution and the only publicly accessible tertiary hospital in Akwa Ibom State. 

"We serve as a place of last resort for millions of citizens. Every day, between 600 and 800 patients come here for treatment. It is unfortunate that the hospital has been partially shut down because of this incident", he lamented.

He therefore made a case for Patients with delicate health conditions, saying they should not be made to suffer from what they don't know. 

Dr. Bassey who related the Tuesday occurrence in detail to the Press, condemned the action of the men of the EFCC, describing it as an aberration from due process.  

He however informed that the matter in contention which led to the incident was amicably resolved and the arrested staff released the same day.

As such, he pleaded for leniency on the Patients, while they seek redress on the issue.   

But in their response, the leadership of the workers’ Union at the hospital denied reports that they had embark on a strike action.

Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Senior Staff Association within the hospital, Comrade Akanubong Asuquo, clarified that workers only temporarily suspended duties because of safety concerns.

“We are not on strike. We only suspended duties for the sake of our safety,” he said.

In the meantime, management of the hospital has assured that health personnel would be deployed to the critical Units mentioned, while cautioning members of the public to desist from suggestive and speculative comments about what happened. 

The Conference was attended by Prof. Udoinyang Inyang, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee; Dr. Joseph Akpan, Director of Administration; Mrs Anthonia Bassey, Director, Finance and Accounts; Dr. Jenny Church Akpan, Head of Nursing Services; Dr. Mfon Inoh, Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria; Comrd. Effiong Umokoro, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; Comr. Harry Akpan, Chairman, National Union of Allied Health Professionals; Comr. Udeme Moses, Chairman, Non Academic Staff Union; Comr. Dr. Ekomobong Udoh, President, Association of Resident Doctors; Comrade Nsibiet John, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council as well as the media community.

Golden Pulse Academy Trains Female Journalists on Impactful Reporting

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

A promising citadel of learning, the Golden Pulse Academy, has trained 53 female journalists in Akwa Ibom State on impactful and result-driven reporting.

The training took place at the Patience (Kemi) Umo Eno Auditorium of the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo.

Facilitated by a thorough-bred broadcast Journalist, Comrade Uduak Ekong, the training explored thematic areas such as Field Survival and Confidence-building, Monetisation and Career Growth, Digital Journalism and Branding, Gender Sensitivity and Political Reporting; with Comrade Ekong highlighting core challenges of female journalists and how to overcome them, from her personal experiences in 32 years of media practice. 

Uduak Ekong who is at present, the Press Secretary to the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, took participants through her journey into a field she ventured into "by accident", explaining in detail how she grew from an intern in the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Coorporation (AKBC) in 1994, to her current position and surmounting every barrier which came her way in the then male-dominated profession. 

"I went into journalism by mistake. I'd always wanted to be a Lawyer. As a young girl, I saw myself as a Lawyer. I took JAMB and I couldn't get admission to read Law. And I thought that, rather than wait another year, I should go to the Polytechnic to read Mass Communication, and off to Calabar, I went", she narrated, and told participants how a one year internship with the AKBC Television, got her an appointment letter with the firm.

At intervals, she made reference to two male colleagues who naturally made room for her, Uwem Akpan (now Professor at the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies, University of Uyo) and Chris Nkang (now retired), both of whom she described as being pivotal to her success story in broadcasting. 

L-R: Chairperson, NAWOJ, Comrade Nsikak Okon with The Facilitator  

The immediate past Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Akwa Ibom therefore charged participants to learn from her experience and strive for excellence without excuses.

"Female journalists face a lot of challenges, some of which are self-imposed. Don't put up marriage, children or school runs as an excuse. What needs to be done, has to be done," the mother of four, said. 

Resource persons at the Training.  L-R: Comrade Helen John, Mr. Cletus Ukpong, Comrade Uduak Ekong and Mrs. Umo Bassey 

The training had as resource persons veterans in the conventional and new media such as Mr. Ibanga Isine, Mr. Cletus Ukpong, Comrade Helen John, Mrs. Umo Bassey and Mr. Aniekan Ekah.

Goodwill messages were received from the Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Management, Princess Itoro Obot; Executive Assistant to the First Lady, Ms. Jennifer Ime; Chairman of NAWOJ, Comrade Nsikak Okon, represented by her Vice, Comrade Udeme Hosea among others.

Participants during the workshop session

 

A major highlight of the training was the development of story ideas from under reported niches, with participants promising to build them into publishable reports from the skills learnt at the event. 

Certificates were also given to attendees for participating in the training.

Presentation of certificates to Participants 

Notably,  the training is part of Uduak Ekong's give-back to her profession in commemoration of her 53rd birth anniversary and 32 years in the Akwa Ibom Civil Service.

#2026trainingforfemalejournalist

#thegoldenpulseacademy

#32yearsofproffessionalexcellence

#empoweringfemalejournalists

#impactfulreporting

#UduakUtipEkong

Press Freedom Day: Journalists identified as critical stakeholders in Peace and Conflict Resolution

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

Journalists in Akwa Ibom State have been identified as critical stakeholders in promoting peace and resolving conflicts in the State.

This was the position of Prof. Iniobong Umotong, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Akwa Ibom State University and panelists at the 2026 World Press Freedom Day celebration held at the Press Centre, Information Drive, Uyo on Sunday, May 3.

Prof. Umotong noted that Journalists are not just watchdogs for the sakes of reporting happenings but for the sakes of ensuring and maintaining peace and decorum in the society. 

As such, the Keynote Speaker called for a deliberate analysis of issues before they are reported.

"Whatever you report, be deliberate about peace. Journalists must ensure to analyse complex situations and present them to the understanding of parties involved, and explain the implications of reporting or not reporting same", he said.

He also called on government, agencies, groups and individuals to ensure that journalism is not hindered, in the interest of the public. 

"Quality journalism is a public good hence, government, agencies and individuals should ensure to create an enabling environment for unhindered journalism", he stated. 

Earlier in his remarks, the State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Nsibiet John, reinforced the importance of the media as a pillar of democracy and a driver of peacebuilding. He urged journalists to maintain professionalism, accuracy, and balance in their reporting, while also commending individuals and leaders whose contributions continue to advance development and good governance across the State.

Setting the tone for the event, the Chairman of the World Press Freedom Day Planning Committee, Comrade Oku Udoetor, underscored the vital role of responsible journalism in promoting peace, unity, and conflict resolution.

He charged media practitioners to uphold ethical standards and remain committed to truth and fairness in their reportage, especially at a time when society looks to the media for direction and stability.

The event which was themed “Shaping a Future at Peace: The Critical Role of Journalism in Promoting Peace and Resolving Conflicts in Akwa Ibom State,” featured the presentation of awards of excellence to performing personalities.

It was Chaired by the MD/CEO, U&K Integrated Services, Engr. Ukeme Eyo, and attended by the media community, government officials, and stakeholders across the State.

Akwa Ibom PPRO Buries Mom

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The atmosphere was sullen, tranquil and hush on Saturday, May 2, 2026 when the Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John laid her mother to rest.

The remains of the deceased, Late Mrs. Nkoyo Ita John Ikot, aged 61, were committed to mother earth admist painful tears by her children who lamented her departure at a time she would have stayed to enjoy the fruits of her selfless sacrifices for them.

According to the family, the deceased was a woman filled with love, kindness, sympathy and empathy both for her children and others.

She wore the garment of humanity with humility and was never found wanting where there was no virtue.

Testimonies from the community and Church she worshipped God with, Christian Fellowship Evangelical, attested to her moral uprightness, disciplined personality, assesibility and peace-loving disposition. 

A business woman, nurse and teacher; the Late Nkoyo according to her biography worked diligently for over 10 years without pay yet, remained steadfast and committed to service. She later ventured into 'mama-put' business and gradually grew it into a standard restaurant. 

Unfortunately,  she passed on after a brief illness on 6th of April, 2026, when all medical attention proved abortive.

"She laboured tirelessly for the success and wellbeing of her children, always praying and hoping to witness the fruits of her labour in full. Sadly, she passed on before fully enjoying the blessings she worked so hard for. She sought prosperity for her family and just as the blessings began to manifest, she was no longer here to partake in them", her Biography read.

In his consolatory homily, the Eket Area Pastor of the Christian Fellowship Evang. Nig. Inc, Pst. Paul Ukpo charged the family to be consoled by the words of the scripture that those who die in the Lord will rise on the resurrection morning. He urged them to live by the principles of their Late mother and what she stood for, adding that she had given them the best legacy.

His position were upheld by the General Overseer of the Chruch, Pst. Emem Jacob other sympathisers who came commiserating with the family.

The funeral sevice which attracted the socio-political and paramilitary class in Akwa Ibom State was graced by the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare; State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Geraldine Sistus; State Comptroller, Immigration Services; Police Officers' Wives; the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Conference of Online Publishers (COOPA) and a long line of dignitaries.