A group within the Peoples Democratic Party, operating under the banner of PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J), has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of social media activist, God’sown Udoito.
The call was contained in a statement jointly signed by the group’s chairman, Dr Tom FredFish, and its secretary, Mr Savour Uko, and issued in Uyo on Sunday, the 18th of January, 2026.
Udoito, a female campaigner advocating for the ancestral land rights of the Ekid people within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, was reportedly arrested and arraigned by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command over allegations of “criminal defamation, threats, publication of false information and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.”
In the statement, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as persistent intimidation and restriction of Udoito’s personal liberty, insisting that she was being targeted solely for voicing her opinions on issues of public importance.
“The PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J) expresses grave concern over the continued harassment and restriction of liberty of Princess God’sown Udoito, an Ekid princess and civic voice who has been targeted simply for expressing her views on matters of public interest.
“PAPA-J hereby demands her immediate and unconditional release. In recent times, a dangerous narrative appears to be gaining ground where honest expression, community advocacy, and factual criticism of the government of Pastor Umo Eno are being treated as offences.
“This development is alien to democratic practice and contradicts the spirit and letter of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right of citizens to question governance in a peaceful and lawful manner.”
The group, while recalling Akwa Ibom State’s long-standing reputation for peace and inclusive governance, questioned why a citizen should face intimidation for speaking on matters linked to her ancestral heritage.
According to the statement, Udoito’s engagement on the Akoiyak Stubbs Creek Forest, described as historically protected Ekid ancestral land, falls squarely within legitimate public discourse.
“Princess Udoito’s advocacy concerning the Akoiyak Stub Creek Forest, a historically protected Ekid ancestral land, falls within legitimate public discourse.
“Her position, which is also shared by many Eket people across the world, is rooted in documented historical and legal realities.
“At no point did her actions encourage violence, public disorder, or unlawful conduct.
“Rather, her engagement aimed to draw attention to alleged policies affecting ancestral land without adequate consultation or compensation of the rightful owners,” the statement added.
PAPA-J also raised concerns that some government officials who should serve as intermediaries had allegedly opted for confrontation instead of dialogue.
“Instead of promoting dialogue with the Ekid people, there appears to be an attempt to deploy state institutions and legal mechanisms to suppress dissenting voices.
“Such actions undermine trust, weaken democratic culture, and risk escalating avoidable tensions. This is totally unacceptable to PAPA-J,” the statement said.
The group further stressed that journalists, whistleblowers, social commentators, and community advocates deserve protection when engaging responsibly on public issues, noting that peaceful advocacy remains a core pillar of democratic accountability.
“Peaceful advocacy and dissent, even when inconvenient to the APC administration, remain lawful and essential components of accountable governance,” it added.
PAPA-J urged the Akwa Ibom State Government and relevant authorities to focus state resources on addressing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and political sycophancy, rather than allegedly targeting citizens for expressing legitimate opinions.
Meanwhile, stakeholders from Ibeno Local Government Area have rejected submissions made by the Ekid People’s Union before the State Land Use Allocation Committee, describing the claims as misleading.
The ownership dispute over the oil-rich Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve has continued to fuel tension between the Eket and Ibeno communities, reportedly resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.
Speaking on behalf of the Ibeno Council in Uyo on Sunday, the 18th of January, the council’s spokesman, Chief Udofia Udofia, backed the state government’s position, alleging that the Ekid presentation before the committee on the 16th of January, 2025, relied on “historical revisionism, misinterpretation of the law, and inflammatory threats against government and legitimate investors.”
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According to him, “Ekid People’s Union lacks any constitutional or statutory authority to claim ownership, control, or veto powers over land administration in Akwa Ibom State.
“The powers of attorney allegedly issued by private individuals or traditional institutions cannot override the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Land Use Act, or the statutory powers of the Governor, who holds land in trust for the people.
“The repeated references to a purported 1918 Privy Council judgment which the Ekid people claim confers perpetual ownership of the entire Stubbs Creek Forest are misleading and historically dishonest.”
Udofia maintained that no colonial-era ruling granted perpetual ownership of a forest reserve legally established and administered by the government, adding that any such judgment would have been limited in scope and could not override post-independence constitutional and statutory frameworks.
Reaffirming the provisions of the Land Use Act, he stated that all land is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the people, noting that large-scale industrial projects such as refineries, petrochemical plants, and mining operations clearly fall under overriding public interest.