By Shadrach Okon
Ahead of the anticipated political showdown in Akwa Ibom State during the general elections in 2027, there are strong indications that the recent defection of Governor Umo Eno and other PDP federal lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC), will rejig the long established political patterns in Akwa Ibom State.
In today’s report, the Guide Newspaper examines how the recent political development in Akwa Ibom State will shape the political history in Abak 5, comprising Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun local government areas.
The five local government areas making the two federal constituencies — Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency respectively were grouped as one before now, and commonly known by in Akwa Ibom State as Abak 5.
In the last 2023 general elections Akwa Ibom State, the history of representation in Abak 5, at the green chambers of the National Assembly took a new dimension with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), losing the seat of Abak Federal Constituency to a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hon. Aniekan Umanah the then PDP House of Representatives flag bearer who was a first term lawmaker at the green chambers of the National Assembly was defeated by Mr Clement Jumbo who contested against him on the platform of APC.
Many political pundits still believe that the dogged determination of the people of Abak 5 to return Senator Godswill Akpabio to the Red Chambers of the National Assembly largely contributed to the success of Hon. Clement Jumbo in that 2023 general elections since Akpabio was elected on the same APC political platform.
Following the existing ( though unwritten) zoning arrangements in Abak Federal Constituency, Hon. Clement Jumbo will complete the turn of Abak Local Government Area, at the green chambers of the National Assembly in 2027, paving way for politicians from Ika Local Government Area to contest for the seat in the 2027 general elections.
However, some politicians within the federal constituency do not believe in such zoning arrangement. They have come out to encourage Hon. Clement Jumbo to recontest for Abak Federal Constituency seat in 2027 general elections.
Recently, Clement Jumbo has received series of endorsements from various political groups within Abak Federal Constituency to pursue his second term ambition. One of such endorsements came from Abak APC Elders Advisory Forum which was recently inaugurated in Abak L.G.A. The political group which is headed by Hon. Innocent Idiong as Chairman with Comrade Friday Iwok as deputy adopted Hon. Clement Jumbo as the APC political leader of Abak L.G.A.
Meanwhile, findings from the Guide Newspaper reveal that the second term ambition of Hon. Clement Jumbo may not receive the support of some eminents politicians within the APC family in Abak Local Government Area.
For instance, the Guide Newspaper reports that during the inauguration of the APC Elders Forum in Abak recently, eminent politicians like Hon. Uwem Udoma, Hon. Emmanuel Udosen, the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Legal and Constitutional Matters were conspicuously absent at the event.
Few days later after Abak APC Elders Advisory Forum endorsed Clement Jumbo to run for a second term, another faction of APC in Abak Local Government Area, loyal to Hon. Emmanuel Udosen and Hon. Uwem Udoma organized a political meeting which was attended by the duo, other politicians and youths in Abak. During the meeting, Hon. Emmanuel Udosen was adopted by his followers as the APC political leader of Abak Local Government Area.
Facts gathered by the Guide Newspaper also reveal that Hon. Emmanuel Udosen and Hon. Uwem Udoma may rather prefer to support any good aspirant from Ika Local Government Area than to support Hon Clement Jumbo’s second term ambition to return to the National Assembly.
A source close to the duo who confided in the Guide Newspaper revealed that Hon. Udosen and Hon. Uwem Udoma may not want the current zoning arrangement in Abak / Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency to be disrupted because of the political ambition of one man.
Also, there are strong indications that Hon. Saviour Enyiekere, the current Executive Chairman National Assembly Service Commission will be joining the race for Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency seat on the platform of APC come 2027. Some political analysts predict that Hon. Saviour Enyiekere may be a major rival to Hon. Clement Jumbo as the battle for APC ticket in the constituency draws closer.
In Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Rt. Unyime Idem, a two- term lawmaker who before his recent defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) represented his constituents at the green chambers on the platform of PDP will be recontesting for a third term on the political platform of APC.
The Guide Newspaper gathered that Hon. Unyime who commands good following within and outside his federal constituency because of his strategic empowerment programmes for his people will be joining the race in a bid to maintain his seat at the green chambers of the National Assembly. A source close to Hon. Unyime Idem revealed that this decision to run for a third term is anchored on the need for him to sustain his political popularity in the State.
While some political pundits believe that Rt.Hon Unyime Idem will get landslide victory in the 2027 general elections, some politicians predict that APC may not offer him the needed ticket to run for the Federal House of Representatives seat in 2027. This critical decision which the party take through various political maneuverings may help the party avert the temptation of betraying other aspirants who have laboured for the party many years ago while Hon. Unyime Idem was in PDP.
Also, findings by the Guide Newspaper indicate that the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Political Affairs, Engr. Aniekan Abraham will be contesting for the APC ticket to represent the people of Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the National Assembly in 2027.
Engr. Aniekan Abraham a native of Oruk Anam will equally enjoy good support from the constituency as a long standing APC member in the federal constituency coupled with the fact that aspirants from Oruk Anam Local Government Area will be favoured by the established zoning arrangement in the Federal Constituency.
