The Empire Naija

  Nigeria’s Senate has declared the rising wave of xenophobic attacks against its citizens in South Africa and Ghana a matter of urgent national importance, calling for swift diplomatic and humanitarian response. The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Aniekan Bassey under Orders 41 and 51, drawing attention to what he described as recurring violence, intimidation, and destruction of Nigerian lives and property in the affected countries. Presenting the motion on the floor, Bassey condemned the attacks as a violation of international human rights obligations and an affront to Nigeria’s national dignity. He warned that the trend, if unchecked, could strain diplomatic relations and destabilize the region. Adopting the motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government to commence high-level diplomatic engagement with authorities in South Africa and Ghana, insisting on thorough investigations and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attacks. The upper chamber ...

EKET, AKWA IBOM — The Eket Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of Dr. Eunice Thomas to represent Eket Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections, in what observers see as an early consolidation of political support within the party. The endorsement was declared on Monday, May 4, 2026, when the frontline aspirant paid a consultative visit to party stakeholders at the Eket Local Government Chairman’s Lodge. Speaking during the meeting, the APC Chapter Chairman in Eket, Hon. Inyang Ebuk, said the decision to support Dr. Thomas followed a collective assessment of her competence, leadership capacity, and perceived ability to unify the constituency. According to him, the party is confident that her emergence would strengthen cohesion across Eket Federal Constituency while delivering effective representation at the national level. Also speaking, the Chairman of Chapter Chairmen, Victor Imaikop, comm...

By Edet Okpo, PhD  In a strong show of political solidarity, youth leaders drawn from various youth strata of the three Federal Constituencies of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District have unanimously adopted Senator Ekong Sampson, Governor Umo Eno, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections. The endorsement was made during a well-attended meeting of the Akwa Ibom South  Senatorial District Youth Leaders’ Forum held in Octagon  Event Centre,  Eket,on Sunday , May 3, 2026, where speakers highlighted legislative performance, infrastructure delivery, and human capital development as key reasons for their decision of adopting Senator Ekong Sampson as their sole Candidate. Setting the tone for the meeting, Mr Joe Mbong, Coordinator,  Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Forum, scored Senator Ekong Sampson high on legislative milestones, quality representation, and infrastructural developments.   Barely three...

  Ray Ekpe  The National Executive Committee of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has officially appointed Hon. Peter Abang Okim as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee for the IPMAN Calabar depot. In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police at Force Headquarters in Abuja, the National President of IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, and National Secretary, Hon. James Terlumun Tor, announced the new Caretaker officials.  Dated April 2, 2026, the letter, copied to key stakeholders in the petroleum industry, stated that Okim and his team are tasked with managing the affairs of the IPMAN Calabar Depot, which serves Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, in accordance with the amended IPMAN 2009 Constitution. The other appointed officials include Chief Samuel Efiok Edem as Vice Chairman; Ayuk Oko as Chief of Staff; Comrade Okechukwu Johnson as Secretary; Uduak Sunday as Assistant Secretary; Samuel Patrick as Treasurer; Kenneth...

  A former lawmaker, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Usenobong Akpabio, has announced that he will not contest the Akwa Ibom North (Uyo) Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, despite mounting calls from constituents urging him to enter the race. In a public statement issued on Thursday, Akpabio expressed gratitude to stakeholders across the senatorial district—spanning markets, churches, farms, and community forums—for their support and encouragement to seek the party’s nomination. He acknowledged the confidence reposed in him by the people, noting that their calls reflected a desire for “purposeful and effective representation.” However, he said recent developments within his political party influenced his decision to step aside. According to him, the party leadership appears to be aligning with a “policy of continuity” that favors the incumbent, a move he said, though not formally communicated, became evident after consultations and careful consideration. “In view of this, it would be ...

  By Asuquo Edem  In a major step toward addressing persistent power supply challenges in Akwa Ibom State, the State House of Assembly has confirmed five nominees forwarded by Governor Pastor Umo Eno to serve as commissioners of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission (AKSERC), reinforcing the administration’s drive to reposition the electricity sector. The confirmation, which followed the screening of the nominees during Tuesday’s plenary at the Old Assembly Chamber, Uyo, is seen as a significant follow-up to Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to epileptic power supply across the state. Those confirmed are Engr. Ubong Etukudoh for Engineering, Dr. Valerie Okon Obot for Finance and Corporate Services, Mr. Paul Okon for Economic Regulation, Dr. Kalu Ukoha for Policy, Planning and Innovation, and Ms. Arit Okon-Uya for Stakeholder Engagement and Consumer Affairs. The confirmation came after the House considered and adopted the report of i...