A prominent political organization in Akwa Ibom State, the Uyo Liberation Movement (ULM), has voiced concerns about what it describes as an orchestrated attempt by state government officials and All Progressives Congress (APC) members to install their proxies as candidates within opposition parties. In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Prince Emmanuel Sam, the group asserted that this maneuver is aimed at stifling genuine political competition in the upcoming 2027 Uyo State Constituency election, highlighting the increasing desperation within the APC ranks.
Following a recent meeting where the group reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the long-standing rotational zoning system for the Uyo State Constituency seat, ULM announced that it is engaging with all opposition parties to ensure that only authentic aspirants from the Offot Ukwa Clan are allowed to contest in their primaries. The group noted the irony that some of those now working to undermine the zoning arrangement were once its strongest proponents.
Providing a historical overview, ULM detailed the rotation of the State House of Assembly seat among Uyo’s four clans from 1999 to 2027: Oku Clan has held it twice, Etoi Clan twice, Ikono Clan twice, and Offot Ukwa Clan only once. The specific tenures were listed as: 1999–2003 (Hon. Bar. Aniedi Ndem, Oku Clan), 2003–2007 (Hon. Elder Archibong Inyang, Etoi Clan), 2007–2011 (Hon. Ekere Affia, Ikono Clan), 2011–2015 (Hon. Edwin Joseph, Offot Ukwa Clan), 2015–2019 (Hon. Monday Eyo, Oku Clan), 2019–2023 (Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka, Etoi Clan), and 2023–2027 (Hon. Uwemedimo Asuquo, Ikono Clan). This pattern, according to ULM, establishes a clear cycle and underscores that Offot Ukwa Clan is still due for a second term, unlike the other clans.
The group characterized any move to disrupt this 28-year-old arrangement as a threat to the peace and unity of Uyo, calling on all citizens to oppose it. ULM also commended the Labour Party’s National Screening Committee for disqualifying Emmanuel Friday Ben, whom they identified as an associate of an APC stakeholder in the state. The statement further urged opposition parties in Akwa Ibom to learn from the damage allegedly caused by the APC at the national level and to take proactive measures to safeguard their internal democratic processes.