A'Ibom AA Governorship candidate heads for Appeal court, Assures teeming supporters of victory.

 The Governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Akwa Ibom  State, Prince Jeremiah Udoh has concluded plans to challenge the judgement of Akwa ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal at the Appeal Court for dismissing a case of non compliance to the Court Order by the electoral umpire for lack of merit.

 Speaking with reporters in Uyo at the weekend, immediately after judgment at the Tribunal, the Governorship candidate who expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, said the   verdict  was without justice 

The Governorship candidate,who equally explained that he met all requirements to have won the Governorship election of March 18,2023, in the state, expressed surprise that the main issue at the Tribunal, which was a non compliance to the court order by the electoral umpire,INEC, to upload, publish his name and particulars on INEC portals as the authentic Governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Akwa ibom State, in line with the provision of the Electoral Act 2022, could be dismissed for lack of merit.

Udoh, while calling on his teeming supporters at home and in  diaspora to remain calm and be law abiding assured them of victory at the Court of Appeal

WHY I AM CHALLENGING INEC AT TRIBUNAL - PRINCE UDO

A governorship candidate in the general election in Akwa Ibom State, Prince Jeremiah Udo Akpan Udo has said that the refusal of INEC to publish his name as the duly recognized candidate of the Action Alliance for the gubernatorial polls held across Nigeria in March was a fatal mistake and rubs the election of it's legitimacy and validity ordinarily. 

The gubernatorial candidate who who is currently at the election petition tribunal, while speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Uyo, said that the petition is unique in a way because it was not about the usual irregularities perpetrated by the political gladiators but rather about the refusal of INEC to provide a level playing field for the candidate and the deliberate manipulation of the process that led to gubernatorial polls here in Akwa Ibom State and indeed around the country.

According to him, "the election is not a thing that happens in a day, it's actually a process that commences from the day the ban on political activities is lifted to the day certificate of return is handed over to the winner. There are specific timelines and deliverables and these must be complied with.

Now to add to the illegality the same INEC was ordered by the Federal High Court and the court of appeal to reflect the names of all the candidate's of the Action Alliance on its portal before the general elections, yet INEC refused to comply".

He stressed that his petition was not about who was the candidate of the Action Alliance party in the last Gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State, that issue had long been settled by the Federal High Court Abuja and affirmed by the Court of Appeal Abuja.

"The petition was actually about whether INEC is above the law and should not obey the valid and subsisting orders of Courts of competent jurisdiction", he said.

MAN IN POLICE NET FOR KILLING SON, DUMPING BURNT CORPS IN PIT TOILET IN A'IBOM

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it had arrested one Innocent Uko for allegedly killing his 26-year-old son, Boniface, for harvesting cassava on his farm.

Uko, who hailed from Ebe Ikpe village in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, was arrested by policemen after the incident was reported by the village head, Chief Akpan Aniekan, and the village council chairman, Sylvester Akpan.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, disclosed this to journalists in Uyo, the state capital, yesterday.

Macdon said the suspect had confessed to killing his son with a machete and that he burnt and dumped his corpse in an abandoned pit toilet in his compound to conceal the act.

He said, “One Chief Akpan Aniekan, the village head of Ebe Ikpe village in the company of one Sylvester Akpan, the village council chairman reported that one Innocent Uko of Ebe Ikpe village in Essein Udim Local Government Area, used a machete and killed his son, Boniface, aged 26 years, burnt the corpse and dumped the carcass of the deceased in an abandoned pit toilet in his compound to conceal the act.

On the strength of the report, police operatives in Essien Udim Divisional Headquarters visited the scene. The deceased’s burnt corpse has been deposited at the morgue. The suspect was arrested and confessed to killing the deceased, his son on the grounds of bad character and incessant harassment and embarrassment.”

The police spokesperson also said the command arrested one Charley John who allegedly stole two seven-year-old children.

He said the suspect used his 10-year-old kid brother to lure the victims who are his schoolmates from their classroom for him to abduct them.

The PPRO said all the suspects would be charged in court at the end of the investigations.

UNIUYO FIRST FEMALE VICE CHANCELLOR, OTHERS BAG 2023 EMTSAN AWARDS

Akwaodudu King, Uyo

The first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Comfort Ekpo recently received the 'commander order of EMTSAN' award from the department of Educational Technology in conjunction with the Educational Media and Technology Students' association of Nigeria (EMTSAN), University of chapter at the Onyema Ugochwuku auditorium, Akwa Ibom State. 

The event which was aimed at bringing together prominent individuals in the University community, student leaders and influencers from various walks of life to acknowledge excellence and innovation also featured beauty pageantry and keynote address on the theme ‘The Impact of Educational Technology on Education in the 21st century'

Under the academics awards category, Prof. Paulinus Etim, Prof. Idongesit Udosen, Prof. Sylvester Akpan, Prof. Thelma Ekukinam, Prof. Okworo Gibson, Prof. Halo Eton, Prof. Essien Akpanuko, Engr. Aniekeme Bassey, Dr. Idongesit Udi, Dr. Xavier Ekong and Dr. Ijeoma Ofem all went home with phenomenal awards for their overwhelming contributions to the growth of the association. Others that smiled home also from the student leaders awards category were, Comrade Idara Archibong, Comr. Samuel Brownson, Comr. Joseph Michael, Comr. Samuel Effiong, Comr. Kopuko King, Comr. Omofon Edet amongst others. 

In his address, Prof. Sylvester Akpan explained Educational Technology to be a problem-solving discipline in human learning. "It has the potential of identifying and proffering solutions to educational problems through its systematic approach to the design, development and improvement of instructional systems".

He furthered that, Educational Technology educates a large number of students with optimal efficiency as greater learning opportunities are provided for all students, regardless of their physical location within the school system as in distance and open learning; internet based learning environment, web-based courses, virtual schools, computer-based residential courses and most recently, Artificial Intelligence studies.

Highpoint of the event saw the emergence of Utibe-Abasi John & Ndifreke Inemesit as Mr. & Miss EMTSAN while Joy Okon & Unah Daniel as faces of EMTSAN respectively.

NPFL: NPFL Postpone Draws By A Week.

 

Board of the Nigeria Premier Football League has postponed the draws for the 2023/2024 league season.

The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon and the new date was also made known immediately.

The draw was initially scheduled to hold on the 17th of August but has now been shifted to the 24th of August, 2023.

Apart from the draw, the Annual General Meeting( AGM) of the league body will also be held on the same day.

GODSWILL AKPABIO INTERNATIONAL STADIUM TO HOST SIX INTERNATIONAL MATCHES FROM SEPTEMBER TO JANUARY 2025.

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pst. Umo Eno, the contract for maintenance of the prestigious Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo has been renewed with foremost construction firm Julius Berger.

The contract renewal is to ensure continuous and proper maintenance of the facility inaugurated in 2013. 

The President of the Nigeria football federation, Alhaji Ibrahim GUSAU says six international matches will be held at the Godswill Akpabio international stadium in Akwa Ibom State from now till January 2025. 

Gusua  dropped the hint today in Uyo at the Akwa Ibom State Government when he led other members of his board on a courtesy visit to the governor of Akwa Ibom state, pastor Umoh Eno.

According to the Nigeria football federation president,the first will on Sunday 10th September 2023, when the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be playing their final 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the national team of São Tomé and Principe.

Responding on the Nigeria football federation decision of bringing the international matches to the Godswill Akpabio international stadium,Governor Umoh Eno, said the contract for maintenance of the prestigious Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo has been renewed with foremost construction firm Julius Berger.

According to the governor, the contract renewal is to ensure continuous and proper maintenance of the facility inaugurated in 2013 so as to offer the nation a best sports facility for the best brand of football.

AKHA URGE GOVERNOR UMOH ENO TO END IKPANYA CLAN COMMUNAL CRISIS WITH NEIGHBORING STATES, RESETTLE DISPLACED PEOPLE

BY DEBORAH EKANEM 

The Akwa Ibom state house of assembly has urged the state Governor, Umoh Eno to as a matter of urgency direct the resettlement of families and displaced indigenous people of Ikpanya clan and as well create a functional join taskforce security post in the area.

This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Ibiono Ibom state constituency, Hon. Moses Essien, appealing to the house to look into the age-long inter state boundary crisis between Ikpanya clan in Ibiono Ibom local government area of the state and neighboring Ito community in Cross Rivers and Arochukwo in ABIA state that has claim lives and displaced many.

The house in her resolution directs the committee on boundary to work with the state boundary committee to bring a lasting solution and an end to the persistent clashes between the communities.

Presenting the motion, Essien, noted that the Clan over the years has been subjected to innumerable hostilities from the neighboring states due to its isolated landmark and abundant natural resources attempting to encroach and cede the Clan.

The  Ibiono Ibom member expressed worry that the issue has led to several deaths of some citizens of the Clan and destruction of property, hence rendering many homeless.

" Worried that this ancient boundary crisis between Ikpanya in Akwa Ibom State versus Arochukwo, Abia State and Ito village in Cross River State have resulted in death of innumerable sons and daughters of Ikpanya, destruction of property and has also rendered  many homeless".

In an interaction with Assembly correspondents after the plenary in his office, the law maker explained that the motion was raised in fulfilment of his campaign promise to restoring peace in the area and his passion to serve and give a good representation  of Ibiono Ibom people as a whole.

On the part of the age-long deplorable access road, the Lawmaker assured of his readiness to swift into action and expressed optimism that the State Governor, Pastor Umoh Eno will in a shortest possible time  look into the situation for remediation.