Imo govt, EEDC trade accusations over alleged planned Slstatewide blackout

By James Ike

The Imo State Government on Sunday accused the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) of plotting a “deliberate and massive” power outage across the state. But the power firm swiftly denied the allegation, describing it as false, malicious, and aimed at misleading the public.

Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, told journalists in Owerri that the alleged plan was part of a sabotage effort targeted at undermining the state’s ‘Light Up Imo’ project, which aims to provide uninterrupted power supply across the state.

Emelumba claimed the government had credible evidence suggesting that EEDC was determined to ensure the project failed, insisting that the company was afraid of losing its monopoly and the revenue it currently enjoys from what he described as erratic and overpriced electricity supply.

He further alleged that EEDC intended to cause a blackout and subsequently blame the shutdown on the installation processes of Orashi Electricity Company, the state-licensed power provider.

“The idea behind the planned massive outage is to turn around and blame the installation process of Orashi Electricity Company for the blackouts,” he said. “EEDC has already prepared a statement to accuse the government and Orashi of causing the outage, in a bid to discredit the company and mislead Imo people.”

He warned residents to brace for a possible blackout “anytime from today or tomorrow,” alleging that the move was designed to frustrate businesses and cause avoidable hardship.

Emelumba also called on security agencies to take note of what he termed a plot to sabotage a legally licensed operator working to improve power supply in the state.

EEDC Denies Plot, Accuses Govt of Actual Sabotage

Reacting in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, EEDC dismissed the allegations as unfounded and urged the public to disregard them.

Ezeh countered that it was, in fact, the Imo State Government that had disrupted power supply, alleging that armed policemen, acting on government instructions, stormed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Egbu station on Saturday, November 15, 2025, and forced operators at gunpoint to shut down all feeders.

“This action plunged customers into total darkness. What greater act of sabotage could there be?” Ezeh said.

He maintained that EEDC had no plan to initiate any major power outage in the state and condemned what he described as an attempt by the government to cover its tracks through propaganda.