2027: Akwa Ibom Speaker Asked To Respect Zoning

Ahead of 2027 general elections, the third term bid of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker, Elder Udeme Otong, has created tension in Abak local government area over the state constituency seat, with the immediate past deputy governor, Obong Moses Ekpo, vowing to scuttle what he described as greedy ambition.

Towards this end, Obong Ekpo, popularly called Pa Mo, has cautioned the speaker to perish the thought, reminding him of the agreement he signed that the baton would evolve to other zones after his second term in 2027.

Ekpo, who recalled this during the end- of – year stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, which was attended by key political stakeholders from Abak, charged the electorates to stand by equity, fairness and justice, as the forthcoming polls draw closer.

‎According to Pa Ekpo, the speaker had signed a zoning pact in his office while seeking a second term in the run – up to the 2023 general elections, recalling that “the agreement clearly stated that upon the completion of the Speaker’s second term, the House of Assembly seat would be zoned to Midim Clan.”

‎“Not while I am still alive will we allow the zoning pact you signed to be undermined. You signed to complete your second term, and it was agreed that the next House of Assembly seat would be zoned to Midim Clan. Therefore, seeking a third term now goes against what you signed,” Ekpo declared.

‎He, therefore, cautioned politicians against allowing personal ambition to create division, tension, or confusion within the Abak geo – polity, emphasizing that “zoning arrangements were established to promote fairness, equity and peaceful coexistence among the various clans in the local government area.”

‎The former deputy governor stressed that the purpose of zoning political offices “is to ensure that no clan is cheated or marginalised,” and appealed to all stakeholders to “honour agreements reached in good faith for the sake of unity and stability.”

‎The stakeholders’ meeting, LEADERSHIP gathered, provided a platform for frank discussions on the political future of Abak, with strong calls for politicians to have respect for existing zoning agreements to foster peace, harmony and good neighbourliness as major driving force for sustainable development.