LG election: Disquiet in Ikot Ekpene as APC zones chairmanship to urban clan

As a build-up to the October Local Government election in Akwa Ibom State, there is notable concern in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area as the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) has zoned the chairmanship position to Ikot Ekpene Urban Clan.

The APC emphasized its strategic position by convening a meeting at the residence of Chief Sunny Ibanga in Utu Ikot Ekpenyong. The meeting included key party figures such as Chief Sunny Ibanga, Pastor Sunny Ibuot, Special Assistant to the Senate President on Protocol Mr. Kufre Okure, Chapter Chairman, Ward Chairmen, chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, among others.

During the meeting, the APC announced that the party has zoned the chairmanship position to Ikot Ekpene Urban Clan, while councillorship aspirants picked their forms.

This decision has caused concern among some members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP is currently dealing with a zoning issue that remains unresolved. The Amanyam people, a minority with a voting strength of 29,000, support zoning that favors them since the previous chairman was from Urban Clan. Conversely, the Urban Clan, the majority with a voting strength of 62,000, advocates for a mainstream approach given that the House of Assembly seat and commissionership are held by Amanyam representatives. They argue that the Urban Clan would be left unrepresented if the chairmanship is assigned elsewhere.

Political analysts view the APC’s move to zone the chairmanship position to the Urban Clan as a strategic effort to capitalize on potential PDP missteps.

An anonymous high-ranking politician expressed concern that the APC might secure victory if the PDP does not align its zoning strategy with the majority Urban Clan’s interests.