Akwa Ibom State’s political landscape has been rocked by controversial remarks from the Speaker of its House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, who asserted absolute control over the selection of candidates for the 2027 legislative elections. In a widely circulated Facebook video, Mr. Otong declared that all 26 legislative tickets were “in his pocket,” sparking immediate public outrage and raising serious questions about democratic processes within the state. His claims suggest a predetermined outcome for future elections, bypassing established party structures.

The contentious statements were made during a courtesy visit by the Ibom Grassroots Development Initiative to his country home in Abak Itenge, an event held in anticipation of his 2025 birthday. During the footage, Mr. Otong explicitly boasted that he had personally secured all 26 House of Assembly tickets under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner. He stated unequivocally, “I single-handedly negotiated for them, no one else… I will personally choose who becomes a House of Assembly member and hand the ticket to the person from my pocket.”

Akwa Ibom State’s legislative body comprises 26 members, a crucial detail underpinning the Speaker’s assertions. The political dynamics in the state recently shifted dramatically, with 24 lawmakers, including Governor Umo Eno, defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC earlier this year. Political analysts had widely speculated that these defections might have been predicated on promises of automatic tickets for the 2027 elections, a scenario Mr. Otong’s comments appear to confirm.

Mr. Otong, who represents the Abak State Constituency and is currently serving his second term, further reinforced his stance in the video, stating that “No one will emerge without my approval.” He also indicated that candidates must secure the governor’s acceptance. However, the exact nature of any arrangement between the Speaker, Governor Eno, or the APC leadership regarding these tickets remains ambiguous. Calls for comment to the APC state chairperson, Stephen Ntukekpo, and party spokesperson, Otoabasi Udo, went unanswered.

The Speaker’s remarks have drawn sharp condemnation from within his own party. The APC Media Network, an affiliated group, denounced Mr. Otong’s statements as “anti-democratic” and “misleading.” Iniobong John, the group’s director, argued that the Speaker’s claims wrongly presented legislative tickets as personal property rather than decisions determined by recognised party organs, underscoring a fundamental challenge to internal party democracy.

The APC Media Network emphasized that only legitimate party structures possess the authority to determine candidacies, not individual officeholders. They highlighted that the APC in Akwa Ibom was built by long-standing members well before Mr. Otong’s defection, warning that such claims could marginalize loyal members and weaken the party’s democratic foundation. The group urged the Speaker to retract his statement, issue a public apology, and called upon the national APC leadership to guarantee transparent and competitive primaries for all Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets.

Beyond the legislative tickets, Mr. Otong also expressed unwavering confidence in securing a third term in the assembly, asserting that the 2027 election outcome for his constituency was already settled. He used a biblical analogy to reassure his supporters, urging them not to fear political opposition, much like the Israelites after their deliverance. He claimed an unnamed individual, who “wants to continue working with me,” had encouraged his third-term aspiration, without disclosing the identity of this influential figure.

Efforts to obtain further clarification or comment directly from Speaker Udeme Otong following the viral video’s circulation proved unsuccessful. Repeated calls and a text message sent to his known contacts remained unanswered, leaving many questions about the implications of his assertions for the integrity of the upcoming electoral process and the democratic principles within Akwa Ibom State and the wider Nigerian political system.

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Keywords: Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets, Udeme Otong, 2027 legislative elections, Akwa Ibom political controversy, APC Media Network, Election integrity Nigeria, Akwa Ibom Speaker claims, Electoral process Akwa Ibom