The Akwa Ibom State Government has debunked a viral social media report alleging that the Deputy Governor sponsored a bill before the State House of Assembly.
The controversial report, said to have been originally published by one Obiavel Albert Abigo, Esq., claimed that a certain ‘Senator Akon Inyang’, purported to be the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had submitted a bill prohibiting sexual relationships between married men and single women.
The debunked report claimed that “any girl, lady, or woman found to be in a sexual relationship with a married man would face up to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine, while the married man involved would be liable to a fine of ₦2 million.”
It cited Tuesday, January 13, 2025, as the proposed date for its passage by the House of Assembly.
However, a press release issued by the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, on behalf of the state government, described the allegation as “entirely false, misleading, and without any factual basis.”
The statement clarified that Her Excellency Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the bonafide Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State “has not sponsored any bill in the State House of Assembly or elsewhere, and she is completely unaware of the purported bill circulating online.”
It explained the constitutional separation of powers, noting that “as a member of the State Executive Council, the Deputy Governor does not have the mandate to sponsor bills to the House of Assembly independently.”
“Any Executive Bill,” the release explained, “must first be deliberated upon and approved by the Council before being transmitted to the Legislature by the Executive Arm of Government.”
The government emphasized that the false report “did not originate from any official channel of either the Executive or Legislative arm” and urged the public to “disregard it in its entirety.”
A warning was issued to “purveyors of falsehood,” with the government stating it “abhors immoral activities which are against Christian principles.”
Members of the public were strongly advised to “rely solely on official, verified government sources for accurate information.”
