RE: FALSE ONLINE REPORT ON REP. OKPOLUPM ETTEH’S STAKEHOLDERS’ BRIEFING IN EKET

PRESS STATEMENT

RE: FALSE ONLINE REPORT ON REP. OKPOLUPM ETTEH’S STAKEHOLDERS’ BRIEFING IN EKET

The attention of the Media Unit of Rep. Okpolupm Etteh, Member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has been drawn to a misleading online publication titled “Angry Youths Storm Etteh’s Stakeholders Meeting in Eket, Reject Second Term Bid or Any Ibeno Bid.”

Ordinarily, we would have ignored such baseless propaganda. However, in the interest of truth and to prevent the deliberate distortion of facts intended to mislead the public, it has become necessary to set the record straight.

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, respected stakeholders from across Eket, ONNA, Esit-Eket, and Ibeno Local Government Areas gathered at the Basement Hall of Villa Marina Hotel, Eket, for a well-attended stakeholders’ briefing hosted by Rep. Okpolupm Etteh. The session was peaceful, engaging, and highly productive, providing an opportunity for the Honourable Member to interact with key stakeholders and present updates on his legislative activities and constituency development efforts.

However, while the briefing was ongoing, a handful of faceless individuals, allegedly sponsored by a few desperate state actors from Eket and Esit-Eket, attempted to stage a poorly orchestrated stunt along Marina Road, Eket, faraway from the event venue. These individuals, who were neither genuine youths of the constituency nor participants in the meeting, gathered briefly, took a few snapshots, and dispersed almost immediately.

Shortly thereafter, their sponsors, through certain media agents, began circulating a fabricated story online to create the false impression that the stakeholders’ meeting was disrupted by angry youths. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The publication is therefore a blatant falsehood, deliberately designed to sow seeds of discord, misinform the public, and undermine the unity and progress of the Eket Federal Constituency. The sponsors and purveyors of this narrative have clearly demonstrated their desperation and fear of the growing acceptance and commendable performance of Rep. Okpolupm Etteh.

For the avoidance of doubt, the stakeholders’ briefing was attended by numerous respected leaders and prominent personalities who can attest to the peaceful and constructive atmosphere of the event. Among them were distinguished figures such as Chief Bassey Dan-Abia Snr, a chieftain of the APC and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Nduese Essien, Leader of the Eket Senatorial District Elders Forum and former Minister of Lands and Housing; Comrade Nsibiet John, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser to the President of the Senate and former Member of the House of Representatives, among many other credible stakeholders.

We therefore urge members of the public to disregard the misleading publication and treat it as a calculated attempt by a few politically motivated individuals to distort facts and heat up the polity.

Rep. Okpolupm Etteh remains focused on delivering effective representation, fostering unity across the four local government areas of the constituency, and consolidating on the developmental strides already being recorded.

The Media Unit further calls on political actors to conduct their engagements with maturity, civility, and respect for the truth, rather than resorting to cheap propaganda and sponsored misinformation.

Signed:
Media Unit
Office of Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh
Member, House of Representatives
Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency.