By Peter Omopo
September 2, 2025
Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom — Residents of Ikot Osurua, the host community of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, on Tuesday barricaded the institution’s main gate in protest against the appointment of a non-indigene as the school’s Community Liaison Officer (CLO).
The protest, which began at about 7 a.m., saw over 1,000 demonstrators chanting war songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “CLO Our Right,” “Umobong Worst Rector in History of Akwa Poly,” and “Umobong Slashes Part-Time Workers’ Salary from N50,000 to N30,000.”
The protesters demanded the immediate removal of the Rector, Dr. Moses Umobong, accusing him of marginalising the host community and cutting part-time staff salaries despite the national campaign for a higher minimum wage. They also alleged that his administration had been insensitive to staff welfare and community interests.
The demonstration disrupted academic and social activities, including the ongoing Students’ Union Government Week, as students and staff were denied entry into the campus.
Speaking briefly to journalists, Dr. Umobong described the incident as regrettable and said he would report the matter to the state government before making further comments.
“I will speak with you in more detail tomorrow. Right now, I need to report this protest to the state government, and I’m not sure when I’ll finish. Let’s meet tomorrow,” he said.
Umobong, whose tenure ends in November, has previously dismissed claims of a succession crisis, insisting that only the state governor and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) have authority over the appointment of rectors. He has also defended his record, citing 100 percent accreditation for all courses, the polytechnic’s rise from 99th to second position nationally, and the employment of over 60 PhD holders during his administration.
The state government has yet to comment on the protest.
