Senator Akpabio Has No Hand In Akwa Ibom State Assembly Crisis-Aide

The attention of the Senator, representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Godswill Akpabio, has been drawn to a statement credited to the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, alleging the involvement of the former Senate Minority Leader in the ongoing crisis in the state House of Assembly.

Senator Akpabio has however distanced self from the said crisis rocking the state assembly. This was made known through information made avalable to newsmen by Akpabio's spokesperson, Anietie Ekong.

"Ordinarily, the distinguished Senator wouldn't have bothered to respond to the spurious allegation because it is contrived to malign his integrity and stands logic on its head.

However, it follows a clear pattern of crying wolf by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the Senator who was the live wire of the party in the State  left the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC.) The strategy by the PDP and its chieftains is that anything and everything must be pinned on Senator Akpabio. 

In his desperation to shop for who to blame and pass the buck, Governor Udom Emmanuel has blamed the security agencies in the State and Senator Akpabio has only become his latest victim. How can a state Governor accuse Senator Akpabio of being the brain behind the crisis, and at the same time declared that "the police should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state and not any other person." Does it add up?

It beats the  imagination of right thinking individuals that a Governor could spew outright lies and falsehood in the face of the crisis in which he is a major sponsor. It is on record that the Governor personally led his security aides and thugs to the House of Assembly and supervised the manhandling of some members of the House of Assembly who were performing their constitutional duties.

The brazen act of lawlessness by the Governor is responsible for the crisis. In justifying this meddlesomeness and interference in the functions of a separate arm of government, the Commissioner for Information of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Charles Udoh said he went to the House of Assembly as the Chief Security Officer of the State!

It is instructive that Senator Akpabio was never at the scene of the fracas neither has anyone any evidence of his involvement, except the oft repeated strategy of blaming anyhing that is wrong in the State on Senator Akpabio. 

Akwa Ibom people have a right to determine who leads them. The choice will be based on performance and not on sentiments.

We therefore advice Governor Emmanuel to brace up and face the challenges of his office, instead of looking for who to blame for his lacklustre performance in the last three and half years which have made Akwa Ibom people determined to democratically vote him and his party out in the election next year," Ekong stated.

PDP Refutes Fake Presidential Campaign Timetable

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has described as false a purported presidential campaign time table in the circulation.

The party made this known in a press release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan on Tuesday.

"The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a phony post circulating on the social media, purported to be the PDP Presidential campaign timetable.

The fabricators of the post even went further to allocate venues and dates for zonal rallies, which they claimed to have emanated from the PDP Presidential campaign council.

For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP clarifies that it has not yet released any timetable or timelines for our Presidential campaigns. Similarly, our party has not yet allotted any dates or venues for our campaigns.

The leadership of the PDP therefore urges all our members and supporters across board to completely disregard the said timetable on the social media, as it did not emanate from the PDP.

The PDP Presidential Campaign Council led by His Excellency, Senator Bukola Saraki, will soon make public the authentic timetable for our Presidential campaign and such information will have the full seal of our party and disseminated through PDP official handles," Ologbodiyan disclosed.

"You Are An Interim Governor, Lacking Legitimacy"-Osun PDP Tells Oyetola

The Peoples Democratic Party has described the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who was declared winner of the September governorship election in Osun state as an interim Governor whose legitimacy is questionable in the eyes of the public.

The State chairman of the PDP, Hon Soji Adagunodo stated this in release issued on the occasion of the swearing in of Oyetola at the expiration of Ogbeni Aregbesolas tenure as Osun state governor.

The PDP said the process which led to the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the Osun governorship election by INEC, was riddled with  the most brazen form of electoral robbery ever witnessed since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria.

According to the Party, the shameful conduct of the supposed electoral umpire and security agents especially during the supplementary election held on the 27th of September leaves a sour taste in the mouth of everyone with  conscience and has remained a talking point in local and global political discourse.

The PDP said what further makes the legitimacy of the man being sworn in as governor  stand on a shaky ground are the myriad of damming reports issued by a combination of local and foreign observers, the Nigeria Bar Association, the US, UK and EU missions and several others who witnessed the horrendous brutalisation of voters, harassment of journalists, open display of bias by electoral and security officials as well as other infractions committed against the people of Osun state during the so-called supplementary election.

The Party said while the court of public opinion has affirmatively and loudly decided on who truly won the Osun governorship election, it is hopeful that the court of law will soon do justice on the matter and restore the mandate to the PDP candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.

Adagunodo advised Mr Gboyega Oyetola to tread very cautiously and act responsibly while he temporarily presides over the affairs of the state in order to avoid worsening the already battered condition of the economy occasioned by the wide spread corruption and profligacy of the Aregbesola administration.

BREAKING: GOV EMMANUEL LEADS ASSAULT ON STATE ASSEMBLY

Unprecedented assault on democracy happened this morning in Akwa Ibom State when the state governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel personally led thugs to invade the State House of Assembly in attempt to disrupt proceedings in the House.

 

However, the attack failed and the assembly continued with the business of the day. In the sitting the house led by Speaker Nse Ntuen suspended the former speaker, Onofiok Luke and other members of the house.

 

In angry reaction, the state government has led thugs to lay siege to the house.

 

There is sporadic shooting around the assembly complex at the time of this report. There is tension everywhere.

Source: apcnewspaper.com

Breaking! Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Reconvenes, Suspends 11 Lawmakers .Standing Committees Dissolved

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly led by the New Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Nse Ntuen reconvened today. Members of the house who were at the plenary condemned the impunity unleashed by the former speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke last week Monday. 

The house moved a motion to suspend the following lawmakers: Onofiok Luke, Udo Kerian Akpan, Felicia Bassey, Nse Essien, Lawrence Udofia, Usoro Akpanusoh, Ime Okon, Friday Iwok, Asuquo Archibong, Mark Esset, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Aniekan Uko till further notice.

The house also dissolved all standing committees constituted illegally by the former speaker. Committees to be reconstituted headed by the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Nse Ntuen and adjourned till Tuesday 4th, December, 2018.