The race for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District under Peoples Democratic Party has taken a different leap as key contenders for the seat have begun consultation of stakeholders in the district.
The district otherwise known as Eket Senatorial District has 12 local government areas.
History of zoning in the district
The district has three Federal constituencies: Eket, Ikot Abasi, and Oron.
A former Senator Udo Udoma from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency represented the district from 1999 to 2007, followed by Helen Esuene from Eket Federal Constituency, from 2007 to 2011.
Eme Ekaete also from Eket Federal Constituency represented the district from 2011 to 2015.
Nelson Effiong from Oron Federal Constituency succeeded Mrs Ekaette, and represented the district from 2015 to 2019. He was succeeded by Akon Eyakenyi from 2019 to 2023.
Stance of Eket PDP Stakeholders
To overcome rancourous and fierce battle, the PDP elders from Eket Senatorial District gathered in January 2022 and zoned the seat to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency comprising Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas.
Straightnews learned that the stakeholders spoke at a meeting hosted by a former Minister for Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien at his residence.
The elders hailed the governor for toeing the path of honour by not showing interest in contesting the senatorial seat, “as is becoming a tradition with governors,” thereby scuttling the principle of zoning, which has been the unifying factor in the body politics of Akwa Ibom State and Eket Senatorial District in particular.
According to them, ”this is why, among other issues, we are meeting today to also take a decision that will continue to foster unity and peace of the senatorial district.”
Those who attended the meeting included the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, a former Nigerian ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Assam Assam.
In attendance too were a former Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Chris Abasi-Eyo; Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Obong Obot Etukafia, a retired Permanent Secretary; Benjamin Udobia, a politician and businessman; Akpadiaha Ebitu and a host of others supported the principle of zoning.
Governor Emmanuel’s Chief of Staff, Mr Inyangeyen, was also at the meeting. He did not speak at the meeting, nor did any of the attendees oppose the resolution.
The elders maintained that the system should remain sacrosanct, as it had curtailed rancour in a multi-ethnic senatorial district, for equity, justice, peace and a harmonious co-existence.
Udom’s kinsmen rebuff stance of PDP elders
Despite the zoning, Rt. Hon. Pat Ifon, the member representing Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/Onna has indicated interest to vie for the position, Straightnews gathered.
Ifon who is a PDP BoT member hails from Onna, governor Udom’s local government area.
Moreover, Ephraim Inyangeyen who hails from Onna, governor Emmanuel’s hometown has joined the race too.
He was first appointed Commissioner for Works before he was appointed the Chief of Staff to the Governor in 2020.
Why I’m against zoning – Inyangeyen
Mr Inyangeyen, while consulting the PDP leaders on Friday in his ward in Onna, said zoning was not bringing “the best” to the district.
“It is my position that everything henceforth be based on competence and credibility. Let all those who seek that office test their popularity in the field.
“Everybody in Eket Senatorial District feels the same level of sadness over the kind of representation the senatorial district has witnessed in the past 15 years.
“Any patriotic son or daughter of the senatorial district should be bothered. Hence my decision to commit my capacity to the kind of change I envision,” Mr Inyangeyen said.
The Chairman of PDP in his ward reportedly said Mr Inyangeyen “has all it takes to bring a new dawn” to the district.
Responding to allegations that he took money meant for roads construction, he said: “My fathers, because you have asked and insisted I provide an answer to your question which is like summon now let me reply.
“Commissioner doesn’t pay for road construction, commissioner processes documents for road construction and the Governor approves it.
“Every contractor in Akwa Ibom is paid by the Accountant-General, directly to the account of the contractor. No Commissioner for Works has access to that money. Roads have been abandoned, and falsehood spread that Ephraim Inyangeyen ate the money and that is a lie.
“I’m demanding the elders to petition me to EFCC if I am found wanting, they should do to me what they want because 1 kobo of that money is not with me. That money is with the contractor and the contractor must account for it.”
However, Essien Ndueso, a media aide to Governor Emmanuel, apparently reacting to Mr Inyangeyen’s ambition, said in a Facebook post that the political leaders of the Akwa Ibom South District have spoken on the matter, and that “responsible indigenes” of Eket Federal Constituency where the chief of staff hails from would give support to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
Mr Inyangeyen was scheduled to consult the PDP, Onna chapter, on Saturday, February 19, but the meeting had been postponed indefinitely, according to the PDP Chairman in Onna, Ubong Adiakpan.
Mr Adiakpan, a lawyer, said the PDP was yet to take a position on the zoning of the senatorial election.
Straightnews understood that from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, Ekong Sampson, a member who represented Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has gone on consultation too for the senatorial seat.
