According to a report by Leadership, on Wednesday March 25, 2026, tension is rising in Akwa Ibom State after Governor Umo Eno changed the political arrangement for elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor scrapped the zoning principle that rotated political positions among different areas and announced that all current officeholders will get automatic return tickets.
The move is part of a consensus to reward members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected with the governor to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level, but the decision has sparked strong opposition from local and zonal leaders.
They had expected offices to rotate to other areas after incumbents completed their terms, in Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency, people oppose Hon. Unyime Idem’s bid for a third term.
Residents of Oruk Anam LGA argue it is their turn to hold the seat, a community leader said they had sacrificed in 2023 for Ukanafun and would not allow a 12-year hold by one area.
Similarly, constituents in Eket and Esit Eket are against Hon. Opolupm Etteh seeking a second term, local leaders insist it should be Esit Eket’s turn, citing the rotation pattern since 1999.
Other areas, including Ikot Abasi, Eket Senatorial District, and Abak State constituency, are experiencing similar disputes, incumbent officials are facing resistance from communities who feel sidelined or excluded, some residents accuse their representatives of trying to extend their tenure unfairly.
Despite the backlash, Governor Eno has affirmed his decision, he warned that anyone who registers to contest elections in 2027 does so at their own risk.
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