The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi, has issued a strong denial over viral reports falsely claiming she is the sponsor of a controversial bill before the state legislature.
Viral Social Media Claim Sparks Public Enquiry
A widely circulated social media post had alleged that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was set to pass a law on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, that would prohibit women from having sexual relations with married men. The post claimed the bill was sponsored by the Deputy Governor and stipulated severe penalties.
According to the false report, any "young girl, lady or woman" found guilty would face 10 years' imprisonment without an option of fine. The man involved, however, would only be liable to pay a fine of N2 million.
Official Rebuttal from the Deputy Governor's Office
In a statement released by her Press Secretary, Omen Bassey, the office categorically denied any involvement with the purported legislation. The statement described the report as "false and misleading" and clarified that the claim was wrongly attributed to Senator Eyakenyi.
"Her Excellency, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi hasn't sponsored any Bill in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or anywhere else currently and she's not even aware of the existence of the said Bill," the statement read.
Constitutional Clarification on Bill Sponsorship
The office further provided a crucial constitutional explanation to debunk the claim. It stated that as a member of the State Executive Council, the Deputy Governor does not possess the authority to sponsor bills independently.
Any executive bill must first be deliberated and approved by the State Executive Council before being formally transmitted to the legislature by the Governor or an authorised representative. This procedural detail highlights the implausibility of the viral claim.
Public Urged to Rely on Official Channels
The statement also pointed out that the false report did not originate from the official communication channels of either the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Consequently, members of the public were strongly advised to disregard the fake news in its entirety and to depend solely on verified government sources for accurate information. This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of misinformation spreading rapidly on social media platforms.
