…As More Groups Declare Alliance With ULM Salvage Uyo
The Uyo Liberation Movement (ULM) has vowed to resist any attempt to prevent Offot Ukwa from producing the next member representing Uyo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in the 2027 general election, declaring that neither intimidation nor the alleged use of Mbiam (oath) would deter its campaign for political zoning and unity in Uyo.
The movement made the declaration during separate courtesy visits by the leadership of Good Governance Initiatives, led by Comrade Mark Udosen, and the Uyo, Justice and Unity Assembly, led by Comrade Nsikak Udo Udoma, to the ULM Secretary-General, Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam, in Uyo.
Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam, who represented the President of ULM, Udeme Ekot, Esq., during the engagements, led members of the movement’s strategic committee in discussions with the groups, which declared their readiness to work with the ULM on issues concerning the political future and unity of Uyo.
The ULM Secretary-General, Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam, alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was attempting to impose what he described as an underperforming lawmaker on the people of Uyo for a second term, saying such a move would amount to “political suicide” and disregard the zoning arrangement in the area. According to him, the ULM remained committed to ensuring that a son of Offot Ukwa emerges as the next member representing Uyo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, urging stakeholders and residents to support the movement’s position.
Earlier, Udoma, President of the Uyo, Justice and Unity Assembly, commended the ULM for what he described as its steadfastness in defending the interests and unity of Uyo, saying the movement had refused to allow the interests of the people to be sacrificed. He said the ULM’s position demonstrated sincerity in its campaign for unity and political justice in Uyo.
Also speaking, Udosen-led Good Governance Initiatives described the ULM as a voice for the people of Uyo and commended its strategic approach to political issues, assuring that it was ready to partner with the movement in its planned Uyo Political Summit, which it said would bring together stakeholders and people from the various clans to deliberate on issues that bind Uyo as a people, particularly political unity and zoning.
The group called on residents who shared its position to join forces with the ULM, saying the political zoning arrangement remained one of the issues capable of strengthening unity among the people of Uyo. It urged residents to work together to prevent what it described as attempts by unnamed political actors to undermine the interest of Uyo.
Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam, who also spoke on the 2027 electoral process, said the ULM would do everything within the law to ensure that votes cast in Uyo Local Government Area are counted, urging eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) schedule and warned residents against being deceived by what he described as false political promises.
The ULM Secretary-General further alleged that some political actors had begun giving people Mbiam, or traditional oath, ahead of the election, warning residents against taking any oath allegedly intended to compel them to engage in violence or cause trouble during the campaign and election.
He urged those being approached to reject such practices and consider the consequences for themselves, their children and loved ones, rather than allowing themselves to be drawn into violence for what he described as “peanut.”
Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam reiterated that the ULM would continue to mobilise support for what it described as the political interest, zoning arrangement and unity of Uyo, insisting that intimidation or the alleged use of Mbiam would not stop Offot Ukwa from pursuing its claim to produce the next House of Assembly member in 2027.
