A circular allegedly issued by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has sparked widespread reactions across Cross River State, following claims that an empowerment programme meant for the entire state is being concentrated within Cross River South Senatorial District for political advantage.
The internal memo, dated April 27, 2026, announced two empowerment programmes for Cross River indigenes; a Skill Acquisition and Capacity Enhancement Programme for 500 persons, alongside the distribution of 150 mini buses and 200 tricycles (Keke Napep).
According to the document, the programmes were scheduled to hold in Calabar on May 2, 2026.
However, reactions erupted online after several residents and commentators alleged that the empowerment initiative was being packaged and promoted as though it were a personal project of Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who represents Cross River South in the Senate and currently serves as the state’s representative on the NDDC Governing Board.
Critics argue that although the memo clearly states the programme is for “indigenes of Cross River State,” mobilisation and publicity surrounding the initiative allegedly focused mainly on beneficiaries from the Southern Senatorial District.
Popular journalist and activist, Agba Jalingo, openly questioned the development in a strongly worded reaction.
“How can Senator Asuquo ‘Suki’ Ekpeyong collect what is meant for the whole of Cross River State and corner same for his own Senatorial District alone?” he wrote.
Jalingo further compared the situation to a previous controversy involving former gubernatorial aspirant Orok Duke.
“This is how Orok Duke collected rice that was meant for the public from the same NDDC, two years ago and used same to do his failed gubernatorial campaign,” he alleged.
While acknowledging his personal admiration for Senator Ekpeyong, Jalingo insisted that the matter deserved public scrutiny.
“I like Suki and admire him personally, but you see this act, it has to be questioned,” he added.
He also called on Senator Eteng Jones Williams of Cross River Central and Senator Jarigbe Agom of Cross River North to demand explanations regarding the alleged exclusion of their districts from the empowerment scheme.
“I am from Northern Cross River, I need that mini bus too. I feel cheated already. I have people who need that empowerment,” he stated.
Another critic accused the senator of allegedly converting a state-wide NDDC initiative into a political tool ahead of future elections.
“Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong carrying an NDDC empowerment and making it a personal project for only constituents from the South to advance his Senatorial ambition is all shades of wrong,” the statement read.
The commentator argued that distributing hundreds of mini buses and tricycles largely within one senatorial district undermines the idea of equal representation and fairness.
The reactions have further reignited conversations about the politicization of federal intervention programmes in Cross River State, with many residents from the Northern and Central districts insisting that state-wide projects should reflect balanced participation across all three senatorial zones.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the NDDC nor Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong had publicly responded to the allegations circulating online.
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