2027 Elections: Isong Pledges Human Capital Development, Dignified Livelihoods for Akwa Ibom South

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial aspirant for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Prince Etim Isong, has promised to make human capital development and the creation of sustainable livelihoods central to his representation if elected to the National Assembly in 2027.

He said this while speaking to newsmen in Uyo over the weekend. 

Isong, who is challenging the incumbent Senator Ekong Sampson for the Akwa Ibom South seat, said his aspiration was driven by a deep understanding of the realities confronting ordinary Nigerians and a desire to use political representation to restore dignity and create opportunities for the people.

Isong described himself as a man who understands “the pores of the common man” and the dynamics of present-day Nigeria, saying his experience and interactions with people at the grassroots had exposed him to the challenges confronting families, youths, women and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, his approach to representation would go beyond political visibility to deliberately empower people to become economically productive.

He said he would pursue initiatives that would help constituents establish sustainable means of livelihood rather than depend indefinitely on temporary interventions, stressing that the ultimate objective should be to restore dignity, self-reliance and hope to the people.

Isong said human capital development would therefore occupy a prominent place in his legislative agenda, particularly through interventions targeted at youths and women, skills development, entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and other programmes capable of enabling people to build sustainable livelihoods.

He also promised to promote what he described as accessible representation, saying the people of Akwa Ibom South deserved a senator who would remain connected to them, recognise their contributions and ensure that their voices and concerns were heard within the National Assembly.

“I understand the pores of the common man and the dynamics of what Nigeria is today,” he said, adding that his intention was to help people establish sustainable means of livelihood and restore their dignity.

The aspirant said his decision to seek the senatorial seat was also rooted in his fundamental constitutional right as a citizen to vote and be voted for, stressing that his aspiration should be viewed within the context of democratic participation and the right of citizens to offer themselves for public service.

Isong, who has been consulting with youths, women, elders, stakeholders and community leaders across the 11 local government areas of the senatorial district, said the engagements had strengthened his conviction that the people were looking for representation that was accessible, responsive and development-oriented.

He also urged the electorate to move away from what he described as the politics of calumny, appealing to political actors and citizens to open their minds to what every aspirant brings to the table rather than relying solely on established political patterns.

He said the people should be willing to examine new ideas and approaches to representation instead of “sticking to old ways”, arguing that the changing realities of the country demanded fresh thinking and practical solutions.

Isong further reiterated that he was not a placeholder in the 2027 contest, insisting that he was in the race with the determination to win and serve the collective interests of the people of Akwa Ibom South.

“I am not a placeholder. I am in this election, and I want to win,” he said.

He maintained that the Senate seat should be viewed as a platform for public service and not as a personal empire, noting that effective representation should translate into legislation, advocacy, opportunities and interventions capable of improving the lives of constituents.

The PDP chieftain also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, saying he would work with both levels of government to pursue programmes and opportunities that would advance the interests of the people.

“I am eager to work with these remarkable people to give you the necessary dividends of democracy that you deserve,” he said.

Isong stressed that his aspiration was not motivated by personal aggrandisement, but by what he described as the collective interest of the senatorial district, adding that his consultations would continue across the 11 local government areas as he engages more stakeholders ahead of the 2027 election.

“I will not win this election for myself. I will win it for the collective interest of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District,” he said.

AKIRS Boss Felicitates Umo Eno on State Anniversary

On behalf of the Management and Staff of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), we felicitate the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, and the good people of the State on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the creation of our dear State, and Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.

Your Excellency, at 39, we have every reason to express GRATITUDE to God as a people for the peace and impactful leadership the State has enjoyed from inception. The imprints of the people-oriented administration, as encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda spread across all LGAs of the State. Your prudent management of the State's resources amplifies the value that Akwa Ibom people are deriving from paying their taxes.

As a Revenue Authority, we are leveraging the support you have given to AKIRS, especially the Harmonised State Taxes and Levies Law and the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to improve the Ease of Doing Business, encourage nano, micro and small businesses to grow, and remove tax burden on low-income earners, while engendering voluntary compliance. The sum of which increases the State's IGR without stifling businesses.

Your Excellency, we celebrate your dogged implementation of the ARISE Agenda in the best interest of the Akwa Ibom people and also join in celebrating the 66th anniversary of our dear country's independence.

Long live Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service!

Long live Akwa Ibom State!!

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

Sir Okon Okon

Executive Chairman

AKIRS

The Essential Godswill Akpabio

By Moffat Ekoriko

Nigeria’s Senate President once famously said that he would have been a comedian and a successful one at that if he had not chosen the path of politics. The comment betrayed the essential Godswill Akpabio: a man who sees the humorous side of life and pokes fun at the foibles of men. To him, life can be a joke or at best too playful to be taken seriously.  His childlike disposition is uncommon with politicians. Akpabio is the only politician I know who holds his own phone and will pick the call of even an 18 year old constituent.

Much of his character has to do with his background. Akpabio grew up a catholic. He cannot forget his bible lessons where it is said that for any man to enter the kingdom of heaven, he has to be like a child: loving, caring and forgiving. The last trait played out in January when he went to church on New Years Day.

After listening to the homily from the priest, he grabbed the microphone to say the message of forgiveness was for him. There and then, he instructed his lawyers to withdraw all the cases he has filed in court against those who maligned him. It may sound a simple act of piety until you realise that there were up to nine cases against persons who bore false witness against him. Some of those false accusations went to the root of his survival as a politician. The Christian in Akpabio was at play. He had forgiven them. It was the biblical case of turning the other cheek. Akpabio is perhaps the only politician capable of that.

Last month, he gathered all the political stakeholders from his Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District for a meeting.  Among the guests were all those who dragged the Senate seat with him and men (and women) who signed a declaration opposing his bid for the Senate. Akpabio stood up, surveyed the audience and declared he has forgiven all. He encouraged the stakeholders to also forgive those who wronged them. Some in the audience could not comprehend his words.

Aniekan Akpan, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the PDP, who was at the meeting said Akpabio has acted like the Biblical Joseph who forgave the same brothers that sold him into slavery.

          https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddl578kNuuZ/?stkn=MW9lNmNyNTVjOG9tZA==

Roads Constructed in the State are based on Needs Assessment - Works Commissioner

...says N879.22bn have been spent so far on Projects

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga has informed that roads constructed in the State are based on needs assessment. He said this at the interministerial Press briefing held at the State Government House on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The Commissioner gave the number of road projects construction by the Umo Eno's administration as 234, noting that the projects had improved connectivity and eased movement across communities by providing alternative routes for commuters. 

According to him, the road construction programme has also opened up previously underserved rural areas to greater economic activity, enabling residents to move goods and services more easily and connecting rural communities to urban centres.

Ibanga further said the government’s infrastructure programme had created employment opportunities for people operating in the informal sector, particularly those engaged at construction sites. 

The Commissioner stressed that the roads being constructed by the administration were selected through needs assessment, rather than being based on the government’s preference or political considerations.

Ibanga who informed that the State Government has invested a total of N879.22 billion in various projects across the State, explained that N131.71 billion was expended on inherited projects, N131.87 billion on emergency projects, while N615.65 billion was committed to projects under the FGBC category.

 He also assured contractors working with the state government that the administration does not owe any contractor whose Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) have been duly processed, stressing that the government remains committed to meeting its financial obligations to contractors.

Civil Service Recruitment: Akwa Ibom Govt Begins Issuance of Appointment Letters

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot

The Akwa Ibom State Government has commenced the issuance of appointment letters to successful candidates in the state’s recent civil service recruitment exercise.

The State Head of Service, Mrs Elsie Peters, disclosed this on Monday, September 14, 2026, while briefing journalists at Government House, Uyo. She was responding to questions on the delay in releasing the outcome of the recruitment exercise.

Mrs Peters said Governor Umo Eno had approved the recruitment of 7,069 personnel into the state civil service between 2025 and 2026, adding that appointment letters were currently being issued to candidates who successfully completed the recruitment process.

She also addressed concerns surrounding the allocation of houses at the Grace Estate to civil servants, clarifying that the houses were provided free to eligible beneficiaries. She explained, however, that interested civil servants were required to pay N50,000 as an Expression of Interest fee to participate in the allocation process.

According to her, the payment was not a charge for the houses, but a fee attached to the Expression of Interest process.

"What happened rather was that those who were interested were asked to purchase an 'Expression of Interest' form, for the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira. No amount of money was demanded as requirement for them to get the house"  she clarified.

It would be recalled that the State had previously announced the allocation of 150 housing units at Grace Estate to civil servants on Grade Levels 1–8 through a transparent selection process. 

The Head of Service spoke as part of activities preceding the 2026 Civil Service Week, which she said provides an opportunity to acknowledge developments and reforms affecting workers in the State.

Among the measures highlighted was the implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage for public servants and the payment of the 13th-month salary, popularly known as “Eno-Mber.” The N80,000 minimum wage and 13th-month salary had been announced by the state government as part of its workers’ welfare measures. 

On pension and gratuity payments, available government records show that the administration inherited a backlog of N111 billion in gratuities and other emoluments owed to retirees from 2012. By April 2026, Governor Eno reported that more than N82 billion had been paid towards the inherited obligations. 

The Head of Service also cited the implementation of the outstanding 7.5% contributory pension obligations as part of the administration’s workers’ welfare measures. The State government had previously announced approval for the refund of outstanding 7.5% contributory pension contributions. 

She further listed the appointment of Permanent Secretaries and the Surveyor-General, provision of housing opportunities for civil servants, enrolment of workers in the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme, payment of leave grants and interventions in the education sector among measures undertaken by the administration.

The 2026 Civil Service Week will feature a range of activities, including sporting events, a fitness walk, carnival float, inter-denominational thanksgiving service, as well as a gala and awards night.

The activities are scheduled to run from Monday, September 14, through Friday, October 2, 2026.

Akwa Ibom is Wealthy but it's People Remain Poor at 39 - Udoedehe

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State for the 2027 election, Senator John James Udoedehe, has described the State as wealthy but poor at 39, blaming successive administrations for failing to adequately harness the state’s resources and human capital to improve the living conditions of its people.

Udoedehe made the assertion during an interview with the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA) in Uyo, where he also criticised Governor Umo Eno for failing to fully utilise the expertise and intellectual capacity available within his cabinet. 

According to him, the State’s abundant resources and revenue have not translated sufficiently into prosperity for ordinary citizens, stressing that governance must ultimately be measured by its impact on the people.

The former Minister of State said the continued poverty of residents was unacceptable in a State with the resources and calibre of human beings available to it.

 He argued that government must move beyond programmes and projects to establish sustainable economic structures capable of creating jobs, stimulating businesses and lifting families out of poverty.

 Udoedehe promised that if elected governor in 2027, his administration would put effective modalities in place to tackle poverty and maximise the human resources available to the State. 

He said his government would deliberately assemble and empower competent people, giving them the opportunity to contribute their expertise to policymaking and development rather than merely implementing directives from the governor.

 “If you look at this cabinet, there are a lot of educated people there. I know a lot of sound people in this government. Have they used them optimally? Have they been able to exercise who they are?” he asked.

Udoedehe also accused the state government of deliberately delaying the Ibom Deep Seaport project for reasons he described as selfish financial interests. He maintained that the project had secured the necessary approval during the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel, arguing that the state should concentrate on actualising the seaport instead of being distracted by arguments over its nomenclature. 

The former minister, who said he contributed to the development of the project as a former member of the Nigerian Ports Authority board and Chairman of its South Finance Committee, described the seaport as a potentially transformative project that could help address poverty if properly executed. 

He said the project had its origins in the administration of former Governor Victor Attah and urged the government to build the facility irrespective of whether it is called Ibaka, Oron or Ibom Deep Seaport.

The ADC candidate further questioned the sustainability of some projects initiated by previous administrations, arguing that development should not be reduced to the construction of projects that become moribund after a change of government. 

He cited industries established under the immediate past administration, which he alleged were no longer functioning because adequate sustainability plans were not put in place. 

Udoedehe said his proposed administration would prioritise projects and policies capable of surviving political transitions and delivering lasting economic value. 

He maintained that Akwa Ibom could no longer afford to have immense resources, competent professionals and enormous economic potential without corresponding improvements in the lives of its citizens, promising that, if elected, he would deploy both the state’s material resources and its human capital more effectively to confront poverty and build a more productive economy.

ANEEJ Urges CSOs, Media to Intensify Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows

 

Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot 

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media to intensify efforts to expose and tackle illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Nigeria and Africa, describing the menace as a major threat to economic development and public welfare. 

The call was made during the course of a two-day capacity-building workshop for CSOs and journalists held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from September 10 to 11, 2026, with the theme, “Strengthening CSOs and Media Capacity to Contribute to the Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) in Nigeria.”

Speaking at the workshop, ANEEJ Executive Director, David Ugolor, said illicit financial flows had deprived Nigeria of resources that could have been channelled into infrastructure, healthcare, education, job creation and other critical public services. 

He said the consequences were ultimately borne by ordinary citizens, who are left to contend with poor public services and inadequate infrastructure.

Ugolor cited the Benin-Sapele-Warri road project as an example of how financial irregularities could translate into hardship for citizens, stating that about N140 billion was carted away from the project while the people continued to suffer the consequences of its failure.

He noted that although Nigeria had established legal and institutional mechanisms, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), to combat financial crimes, the persistence of IFFs required stronger citizen participation and public scrutiny. 

He therefore urged CSOs and the media to work collaboratively in investigating suspicious financial transactions, tracing stolen assets and holding public institutions accountable. 

In his remarks, the Operations Coordinator of the SecFin Project, Philippe Pacaud, similarly called for stronger collaboration with CSOs, noting that illicit funds from Nigeria and other African countries are often diverted into funding of corruption and terrorism activities.

In his remarks, the NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Bakari, stressed the importance of CSOs in advocacy, research, public awareness, policy engagement and community mobilisation in the fight against financial crimes. He said the role of civil society would become increasingly important as Nigeria prepares for its 2027 evaluation of its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing framework. The workshop, organised under ANEEJ’s project on strengthening CSOs and media capacity to fight IFFs, was implemented with the support of the European Union through the SecFin Africa Project.

The workshop featured presentations and interactive sessions on understanding illicit financial flows and financial crimes in Nigeria, assessment of the country’s legal and institutional framework for addressing IFFs, investigative journalism, media ethics, legal risks, protection of sources and digital security among others.

Participants also undertook practical sessions in which they developed investigative story ideas and reporting plans around illicit financial flows. 

Resource persons included Pacaud; Professor Abdullahi Shehu of SecFin Africa; Taiwo Adebayo of the Institute for Security Studies; Aisha Bantam of the NFIU; Adedayo Kayode, Managing Consultant, Aideasbanc Consulting Limited; and Muskiliu Mojeed of Premium Times.