2027: Constituents Protest, Vow To Scuttle A/Ibom Speaker’s 3rd Term Bid

Angry Akwa Ibom constituents from Abak local government area have taken to the streets in protest over the third-term bid of the House of Assembly Speaker, Elder Udeme Otong, arguing that his scorecards in the last two terms have been so appalling that they deny other clans their rights to also take a shot.

Under the aegis of the Abak Peoples’ Congress (APC), the protesters declared that “there will be no third term for the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong,” warning that any attempt to return in 2027 would be fiercely resisted at the polls.

The group, LEADERSHIP learnt, is made up of critical stakeholders drawn from across the wards and clans of Abak local government area. They insisted that “the next representative for Abak State Constituency must come from Midim Clan, in line with a zoning arrangement they maintained is binding, valid, and sacrosanct.”

The position of the congress was contained in a communique made available to journalists on Tuesday by Hon. Rock Dick, after an enlarged meeting convened at Abak LGA to review what participants described as “troubling political developments capable of disrupting peace and unity in the constituency.”

According to the stakeholders, “democracy can only thrive where fairness, justice, equity, and respect for collective agreements are upheld,” recalling that in 2023, political leaders and representatives from across Abak LGA met at the instance of former Deputy Governor, Obong Moses Ekpo, “where a zoning formula was unanimously adopted to ensure balance, inclusion, and justice among the various clans.”

They stated that the agreement clearly provided that after the tenure of Abak Clan, which currently occupies the seat through Speaker Otong, the next representative in the 2027 election should emerge from Midim Clan, adding that all parties present at the meeting, including the Speaker himself, signed the agreement “as a commitment to honour its terms.”

The Congress observed with dismay the recent moves by a beneficiary of that arrangement to seek a third term, they noted, describing such ambition as “a direct violation of the subsisting accord and a betrayal of the trust reposed in political leaders by the people.”

They therefore accused the incumbent lawmaker of failing to justify his years in office with visible and life-changing projects despite occupying one of the highest offices in the State, but “has little to show in terms of developments and meaningful dividends of democracy.”

They added that dissatisfaction had spread across Abak, with many constituents openly describing the representation as disappointing and far below public expectations, and consequently declared a vote of no confidence in the Speaker.

The stakeholders reminded politicians that “Abak people have a history of voting out underperforming representatives regardless of status or political influence,” citing the 2023 election as an example when, according to them, a candidate who claimed popularity was rejected by the electorate for failing to deliver.

The meeting also reacted to statements allegedly credited to the Speaker suggesting that he had control over party tickets across the State constituencies and would determine who gets nominated, a claim they argued was “contrary to democratic norms, party supremacy, and the principles of fairness and inclusiveness.”

They therefore warned that “no individual, irrespective of position, has the authority to override the collective will of the people or hijack the democratic process for personal gains.”

In his reaction, Amb. Regal Ibokette noted that “Midim Clan has capable and enlightened individuals who understand the challenges facing the people, pointing out that the embattled Speaker was fully aware of the zoning agreement and had appended his signature to it. “He now says the agreement was made in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Perhaps he forgets that many of those involved have now moved to the All Progressives Congress,” he said.

Comrade Innocent Johnny from Otoro Clan said no meaningful developmental stride had been recorded in Abak since the emergence of Speaker Otong, while Mr. Clinton Essien from Afaha Obong supported the call for Midim Clan to produce the next representative.

End.