Politics
Ex-Minister, 4 Others Vie For Senate Seat
Five aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Patry (PDP) have indicated interest to run for Akwa-Ibom South Senatorial District in the 2010 elections.
They are Mrs. Helen Esuene, wife of retired Brigadier Udoakagha Jacob Esuene, former military governor of South Eastern State, Mrs. Eme Ufot Ekatte, the incumbent Senator, Dennis Ekereuwem, Bishop Sam Akpan and Dr. Esio Udoh.
Akwa-Ibom South senatorial district is made up of Eket, Ikot Abasi and Oron areas currently represented by Mrs. Eme Ufot Ekaette, four out of the five aspirants are from Eket, where the senate seat was said to be zoned for two terms between 2007 and 2015.Already all the senatorial aspirants have gone unto full campaign to seek for mazimum surport to enable them get the PDP ticket for the senatorial district. The Tide reliable gathered that the senate race for the senatorial district will most likely be a straight fight between the incumbent senator and the wife of the former military Governor of the South Eastern State.
Meanwhile, Esuene former Minister of Environment and Urban Development has met with party stakeholders in Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo local governments as part of a tour of the 12 local governments constituting Eket Senatorial District.
Addressing party stakeholders at the PDP secretariat in Ikot Abasi, Esuene pledged to abide by the zoning arrangement which reserved the senate position to Eket Federal Constituency for two terms from 2007 to 2015.
“I am very much aware that the position was conceded to Eket Federal Constituency by the other two geo-political zones.
“I am only coming to complete the second tenure and I am seeking a partnership for a single tenure of four years, this is where I need your support,” Esuene said.
She noted that the constituency is predominantly a coastal settlement with peculiar environmental challenges like oil spills and marine erosion which, she pledged, to address at the Senate if elected.
“I have lived here for a long time and my experience as a minister of environment will go a long way in finding a lasting solution to our peculiar problems as an oil-producing area,” she said.
In a remark at the occasion, Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government, Mr Archibong Umo, urged the aspirant to sustain her humanitarian gestures beyond the campaign period.
Julian Ichemati
Politics
Gov Alia Appoints TuFace As Adviser

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Politics
Oborevwori, Okowa Dump PDP For APC

Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Politics
Speakers Conference Tasks FG, Governors On Wanton Killings
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.
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