₦airaland Forum

Youths in the Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have staged a protest over what they described as more than 25 years of electricity blackout, declaring that there would be no electoral activities in the area until power is restored.

The protesters, who marched in large numbers, lamented that despite Afikpo producing high-ranking political office holders, including the deputy governor, federal and state lawmakers, local government officials, and commissioners, the area has remained without electricity.

Speaking on behalf of the Odinma Afikpo group, Mr. Charles Otu, a journalist and social activist, said elected representatives from the area must be held accountable, stressing that constructive criticism should not be misconstrued as negativity.

“We want Afikpo Light restored. That was after over a decade. Nothing changed. In 2019, we were promised by then Governor Umahi that before the 2019 elections, Afikpo Light would be restored.

“A five-man committee was set up, made up of Afikpo sons and daughters. To date, nothing has happened. In 2022, again, this agitation came through social media: we want Afikpo light restored.

"From 2022 till now, nothing has changed. The last episode was in 2024, when this same agitation started on Facebook. That was when a famous coinage of Agui, where a bold young man spoke and said the elected people should go to wherever this electricity is having problems and fix it. We have a 133 kV substation in Amasiri. They have been working on that substation since 2001.

“Somebody born in 2001 till now is 25 years old. The person is ready to become a mother if she's a woman. If he's a boy, he's done with the university and he's now asking for employment.

“Why is it difficult to energize the African substation? The governor of Ebonyi state, Mr. Francis Nwifuru, has intervened in this matter. Gave 208 million. In 2024, they told us, they said, "Look,"

“It won't take us three months. It won't take us three months. And this light will be restored. That was where we were in 2024. This is 2026. Two years after what has happened to our people. That's why we came,” Otu said.

The protest, however, was not without internal tensions, as some community stakeholders were accused of attempting to discourage the agitation, describing it as unnecessary criticism.

“They told us they had a general assembly. And they said they don't want people to write. We were waiting for the elders to come out plain and tell us what they meant.

“What did you say? It's criticism. Is it for me, a lawmaker, asking me, a journalist, why he made an event about Afikpo electricity where he represents me and he has been in the House of Representatives for 12 years? Is that what you call criticism? If that is what Afikpo has called criticism today, I am saying that it is not criticism. And I am saying that as a journalist, even if they say they are placing a fine of 100,000 for those who write,

“It is not going to affect me. I am a journalist, and I will not be stopped. I am not going to stop talking about it; I have talked about development issues in Ebonyi for 15 years. Those who know me very well know that in 2011, since my practice, right from Ebonyi Voice till now, you are my colleagues and should bear witness to me. I have always stood for developmental journalism. What will bring development? Is our world developed in darkness? The answer is no,” he said.

Another protest leader, Mr. Iheukwumere Okogwu Otu said the demonstration was aimed at sensitizing leaders to their responsibilities, emphasizing that criticism is an essential part of governance.

“Like, these are people. And it is not a new story that for over two decades, we've not had steady lights. And the bulk of this criticism is because of this lack of electricity. A boy, a girl, or a child that is up to 15 or 20 years old doesn't know what electricity is. If light comes up and the generator is not on, the boy of 15 years will be wondering where the light is coming from. That is how bad it is. And this is a town that has a House of Rep member, deputy appropriation chairman.

“Deputy governor, what do you call it, two House of Assembly members, three commissioners, and all that you have in government? And the place has been abandoned with normalized darkness in Afikpo. And the people you see here have reduced. We were over 2,000 in the morning because it's a matter of concern. No right-thinking person would just endure this situation,” Iheukwumere said.

He further decried the lack of human and capital development in the area, noting that many graduates remain unemployed while resources are allegedly mismanaged.

“And we are saying, without this power restoration, we are not voting and won't allow anybody to campaign.

“That is our resolve. No light. No vote. No light. No vote. So that is our resolve because we've traveled and we've seen how things work. Most of the persons you're seeing here, they have masters.

"Some even have doctorate degrees. And we have somebody in the House of Rep who's seen how jobs are being gotten; the advertisements you see online and in the newspaper have already been given. They share jobs now. Where is the one for our people, our constituency? Instead, they want to keep us especially in darkness because if 500 million can be budgeted for fish into the river, is it 2 billion or 3 billion that he cannot also do it the way he did it to achieve that 500 million for our electricity?

"So it's something that is confusing. And I don't know, most of us are just helpless, especially our elders. I don't know where and how this town, a town that houses the who's who, people who are courageous, people who are brave, and I don't know where they are.

"The promise I'm making to our people, even if it's only me, is the truth; I must continue to agitate, I must continue to ask for the things that are right for the people; I can't do otherwise,” he added.

A female protester, Lady Sheravin Mbe, also told reporters that Afikpo once enjoyed electricity decades ago, recalling efforts by a former lawmaker to restore power.

“You could imagine since 1970, I think from that time till now, it should be more than 49 years. What happened now? That our children, our grandchildren, would say we don't have need of this wire; I do tell them we once had light in Afikpo.

“They now ask me what happened now. I told them I don't know. But some so-called big fish in Afikpo. Because I know there's a lady here that wanted this light and stood firm to make sure that there's light in Afikpo. And her name is Maria Udewachi; her efforts were truncated because she is a woman,” she added.

The protesters insisted that their stance remains unchanged, warning that political campaigns and voting would be resisted if the electricity issue is not urgently addressed.

Observers say the development could have implications for upcoming local government elections and the 2027 general elections if the grievances remain unresolved.

Even the one Tinubu promised, his spokesperson says he has fulfilled the promise. He says Nigerians now have power supply more than before. How come Afikpo people have not received their own electricity allocation?

BREAKING!!! DANIEL BWALLA CAUGHT IN ANOTHER WEB OF DISGRACE... He didn't only sounded stupid, he looked stupid regretted coming for this interview. You can't be defending Tinubu without sounding stupid. Retweet massively pls. pic.twitter.com/VWQbm0YkVt

— BUCOS (@TENIBEGILOJU202) April 20, 2026

25 years of no electricity
Na wa oooo

That's wickedness from the political class

enough is enough,
we can't take this poo anymore

Yes! I am with you! Yes yes yes. Actually All Nigeria should have a civil and non-violent public protest to show disaffection with the performance of successive and present governments in the aspect of electricity supply!

Professor by Experience go say which kind Gbese b dis 🤣😂😅

No light in Afikpo for 25 years? For real?

That's it! Hold your leaders by the blockus.


Umahi is an oily individual. Where's that dog Nwaebonyi by the way?

25 years of total darkness and one idio*t is honorable for good twelve years? May God heal Nigeria.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS? ? ? ? ? ? ?🙆🏾🙆🏾🙆🏾🙆🏾🙆🏾 Nigerians are WICKED SHA

KAI !!!!!😲😲😲😲😲

A good one...25yrs no light naija
.

You cannot convince me that our politicians are not wicked and darker than darkness with the way they leave us in darkness.

According to Tinubu,
"don't vote for me if I don't give you electricity.
A promise made, is a promise kept"

Nigerians, the ball is on your court.

Tinububu give them rice

This is serious. So they didn't watch Yar'dua, Jonathan, Buhari and Tinubu swearing-in on TV? Damn. The current governor should do something about this.

So the Rep or Senator superintending over that area cannot pencil off-grid power amongst his Constituency projects.

Get the town to donate land, just a tiny space of 6 hectares is sufficient for 3 megawatts solar for at least 8 to 10 hours a day while they find a way to hook up to PHCN as night backup.

I don't know what leaders and citizens of that community are thinking.

Ayim Pius Ayim.



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's high time we do this ooO, no voting in Afikpo!!! We are tired! No light, No Voting!!! INEC DON'T BOTHER COMING TO AFIKPO NORTH!!!

No light since 2001?

Obasanjo spent close to $16B on electricity back in the days yet nothing to show for it.

Him and Atiku should be in jail as we speak.

Na now them just wake up...lol ?😂

Tjra:
No light since 2001?

Obasanjo spent close to $16B on electricity back in the days yet nothing to show for it.

Him and Atiku should be in jail as we speak.

you creator and builder of lagos state said he will give them light if he didnt achieve that let no one vote for him again. hope you will send him to prison first for scamming them

There's a community behind ifo high School, ifo, ogun state no blink of electricity for more than 3 years. Please government help them.

This article is heartbreaking. Going without light for 25 years is too much suffering. I support their "no light, no vote" protest because leaders who enjoy electricity in their own homes should not ignore their own people. The youth are right to demand action, not just empty promises. I pray the government listens and restores their power quickly, because every Nigerian deserves to live and develop with basic amenities like electricity.

[quote author=WorkTheTalk post=139213896]Even the one Tinubu promised, his spokesperson says he has fulfilled the promise. He says Nigerians now have power supply more than before. Watch the video below and hear it for yourself.

BREAKING!!! DANIEL BWALLA CAUGHT IN ANOTHER WEB OF DISGRACE... He didn't only sounded stupid, he looked stupid regretted coming for this interview. You can't be defending Tinubu without sounding stupid. Retweet massively pls. pic.twitter.com/VWQbm0YkVt

— BUCOS (@TENIBEGILOJU202) April 20, 2026

Tinubu make dem no have light for 25yrs?

The light situation in Lagos is worse than Afikpo please..

See heat everywhere. People sleeping outside till 12am where they put on their generators to use overnight

What do you expect from people that believe in bribing DELEGATE which money will dey use for the project after settling cronies and crooks, Nigerians wake that thing called primaries is the foundation of corruption you have to kill it

Yessioo, my people, we have really tried waiting for these users of politicians. We say no this time. Enough is enough

DAVE UMAHI,YOUR DARLING MINISTER OF WORKS WAS A GOVERNOR THERE FOR EIGHT YEARS,THOSE ANTI OBI AND BAT WHY ARE YOU GUYS QUITE.

Nothing will change they can protest all they like, their votes doesn't count anyway.