Ikonowatch

"I DID NOT VOTE FOR SENATOR AKPABIO"  - AIDE CONFESSES TO TRIBUNAL ...VIDEO EVIDENCE FAILS TO SHOW COLLATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS IN DEFEATED SENATOR'S UNIT  A media aide to Senator Godswill Akpabio, Mr Anietie Ekong has told the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo that he did not vote for the former Senate Minority Leader in the  February 2019 National Assembly elections. He has also failed to authenticate the winner in Senator Akpabio's unit despite possessing video documentaries of alleged elections, claiming he left the venue with his boss before collation and announcement of results. Anietie Ekong, testifying as PW17 in Tuesday, admitted under cross examination that he is a registered voter in Ward 13, Oruk Anam local government area, but never went to vote since he was busy with the Senator at his Unit in Ukana West of Essien Udim local government area throughout the period of the elections. The media aide who was...

NEGLECT UNPRECEDENTED: THE CASE OF IBIANANG AND EDEM IYERE COMMUNITIES IN IKONO LGA, AKS. Edet John (07085733806) The Old Itu road which is a major road connecting Ikono LGA to Ibiono Ibom and Ikot Ekpene LGAs has been in a state of disrepair for over 16 years and counting. This has stalled social, cultural and economic activities amongst the affected communities in Ikono LGA and Ibiono Ibom LGA by extension. Recall that the popular Naira Market (Urua Naira) serves the people of Edem Iyere, Ibianang, Ibiono Ibom and its environs as the only ready traditional market place were these rural dwellers exchanged their commodities and wares for a consideration. Unfortunately, these people, even after making their commodities readily available for sale, do not have the means to transport same to the market place as the only access road to the market is the abandoned, dilapidated Old Itu Road which at best could be described as a death trap. Also recall that at several fora, the...

We are not against Local government autonomy – AKS Govt By Abel Udoekene The Akwa Ibom State Government has disclosed that they are not against the autonomy of Local government areas.In a chat with newsmen in Uyo- the Akwa Ibom State capital, Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN) who is representing the 31 local government area and the State government in a suit (suit number FHC/UY/CS/88/2019) filed in a Federal High court in Uyo against the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) noted that the power to legislate local government affairs according to the constitution was vested on the State House of Assembly not a mere establishment like the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). According to him, the decision of his clients to challenge NFIU guidelines which is seeking to take over the control of Local government area was out of constitutional concerns and its implication. “What we are pursuing has nothing to do with the financial autonomy of Local government, i...