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The Akwa Ibom State Government has denied claims that it reported former Governor Udom Emmanuel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The denial followed allegations made by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in the state, Senator John Udoedehe.

Udoedehe had alleged during a media briefing with online publishers that Governor Umo Eno was involved in reporting Emmanuel to the EFCC and providing information that led to the anti-graft agency taking action against the former governor’s property in Victoria Island, Lagos.

However, the state government rejected the allegation, describing it as untrue and unsupported by facts.

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said Governor Eno had never reported Emmanuel or any other person to the EFCC.

According to the commissioner, such an action was not consistent with Eno’s conduct, particularly his relationship with former leaders of the state.

The statement read: “The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Government has been drawn to a recent social media video in which Senator John James Akpanudoedehe made grave and completely unsubstantiated allegations against Governor Umo Eno and former Governor Udom Emmanuel, including the claim that the Governor caused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize the former Governor’s Lagos residence.

“Ordinarily, the Government would not dignify such a tissue of lies with a response. However, given the apparent intention to incite the public and create tension, we have chosen to set the records straight. The allegation is false, reckless and without foundation.

“I make bold to say that I have never reported anyone, talk more of my predecessor in office, to the EFCC. I stand to be challenged or contradicted. This categorical position underscores the baseless nature of the allegation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Umo Eno has never reported anyone to the EFCC. I make bold to say that I have never reported anyone, talk more of my predecessor in office, to the EFCC. I stand to be challenged or contradicted.

“If Governor Eno were driven by any form of fury, why has he retained most of the persons who served under the former administration? Why has he continued and completed projects initiated by former Governors? It is, however, important that Senator Akpanudoedehe does not attempt to rewrite the history of the build-up to the 2011 gubernatorial elections, when violence, destruction and acts of arson resulted in the burning of vehicles purchased for the mass taxi service and damage to public assets, causing serious trauma across the State.”

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The United States has barred officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

The State Department, in a media note on Wednesday, asserted that the PA, Palestine’s interim governing body, and the PLO “failed to live up” to their obligations.

In its report to Congress, the Department cited the breach of the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002.

The U.S. further listed initiation and support for international actions that undermine and contradict prior pledges highlighted in Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

Washington decried the steps to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The PA and PLO were also reprimanded for seeking unilateral recognition, paying stipends to terrorists, and glorifying “acts of terrorism and terrorists” in comments and school textbooks.

“The United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA,” the statement reads.

It called the decision a “consequence of their failure to reform,” contrary to commitments to the U.S., and “ongoing activities” that subvert the prospects for peace.

The development means President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders cannot attend the UN General Assembly slated for September 22 to 26.

The Trump administration imposed a similar restriction in August 2025, when 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas for the annual UN high-level conference.

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and federal lawmaker, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said no member of the ruling party can claim not to have benefited from the efforts of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Jibrin stated this on Wednesday night while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he rose in stout defense of the FCT Minister amid attacks from some APC governors.

“There is no APC member in Nigeria today that has not directly or indirectly benefited from the efforts of Wike, so long as delivering the President, also managing the government, also performing his work, there is nobody,” Jibrin declared.

The Kano lawmaker insisted that Wike remains a major asset to the APC and should not be subjected to public embarrassment.

“Wike is an asset to the APC. I don’t think Wike should be embarrassed at this moment with public statements,” he said.

Going further, Jibrin emphasized the huge sacrifice made by the FCT Minister for the ruling party:

“Wike is an asset to APC, he has sacrificed so much for the President and the APC.”

He clarified that his defense of Wike was not borne out of personal closeness, but out of the need to protect the stability of President Tinubu’s second term project.

“And secondly he made a huge sacrifice, as I talk to you, before only God I worship, I don’t know Wike but he knows me from a far and I know him from a far, if I see him I know he is Wike and if he sees me he will know I’m Honourable Jibrin, I have met him just twice accidentally, so I’m not holding any brief for Wike, but I think anything that is going to touch on the stability of the journey towards delivering the President I like to make my intervention,” he explained.

Jibrin revealed the extent of Wike’s sacrifice for the party, saying the FCT Minister surrendered his own political structures for the APC to thrive.

“I believe that Wike has sacrificed, he handed over Rivers to APC, Wike had candidates FCT election but asked them to step down for APC. Wike came into this government as government of national unity. In reality we should be fair to him, he has done far more than that,” he said.

The former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, said it was normal in politics to have members of other parties working for the APC, adding that Wike is not alone in that regard.

“There are people who are in other parties, who are working with us in the NDC, in the ADC. Some of them called me yesterday, saying, ‘Look at what they are saying about Wike,’” he stated.

He further advised the aggrieved APC governors to see Wike as one of their own and seek dialogue rather than public attacks.

“For the governors, they should take Wike as part of them, you call Wike the number 32 governor and Adeleke number 33 governor of the APC, if there is problem at the state level, the entire coalition that he is doing is for the President, if anybody at the subnational level feels it may work against him or his interest, they should discuss with Wike, but I do not think Wike should be embarrassed with statements,” he stated.

Jibrin’s intervention comes amid criticism of Wike by some APC governors, notably Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who have questioned his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while mobilizing for Tinubu’s re-election under his “Rainbow Coalition.”

He argued that Wike’s support has already translated into tangible electoral gains, including the APC’s victory in five out of six Area Councils in the recently concluded FCT elections.

According to him, politics is about numbers and winning, and Wike has proven his capacity to deliver.

The Kano-born politician, a key figure in the coalition for Tinubu’s second term bid, urged the party to protect and leverage Wike’s value rather than attack him, warning against inflammatory statements that could demoralize strategic allies working for the President from outside the APC.