… After failed efforts to impose the incumbent reps Clement Jimbo
By Our Reporter
Political tension is steadily rising in Abak Federal Constituency Akwa Ibom state following allegations that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, is orchestrating a political strategy aimed at retaining control of the House of Representatives seat through his family after failing to secure widespread acceptance for the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Clement Jimbo.
According to political stakeholders across Abak Federal Constituency, the Minister is allegedly positioning his biological first son, Marshall Ekperikpe Ekpo, to contest for the House of Representatives seat on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a move many APC loyalists have described as a dangerous act of anti-party politics.
The development has sparked intense debate across Abak, Etim Ekpo, and Ika Local Government Areas, with many stakeholders interpreting the move as a carefully designed “Plan B” intended to secure the federal legislative seat for the Minister’s family should his preferred candidate within the APC fail to emerge victorious.
Speaking anonymously, a stakeholder from Etim Ekpo expressed concern over what he described as a calculated political arrangement.
The political atmosphere in Abak Federal Constituency has been unsettled by what appears to be a dangerous political scheme masterminded by the Honourable Minister. Many of us believe this development is unhealthy for the APC and the constituency at large.
Political discussions gaining momentum throughout the constituency suggest that the Minister’s alleged sponsorship of his son under another political platform has raised serious questions regarding loyalty to the APC and commitment to the principle of party supremacy.
A stakeholder from Ika Local Government Area questioned the implications of the development.
“If a serving APC Minister is allegedly sponsoring a direct his once disowned son on the platform of another political party, can we still honestly say the APC remains supreme within his political structure?”
Many political actors within the constituency argue that the alleged move represents a contingency strategy designed to preserve political influence and family dominance irrespective of the outcome within APC structures.
According to them, such actions could undermine confidence among party faithful and weaken party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Several APC supporters have also warned that any perceived anti-party activity could negatively affect the electoral fortunes of APC candidates at all levels, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other candidates of the ruling party.
Critics have further described the alleged arrangement as a dangerous precedent capable of breeding distrust, confusion, and internal sabotage if left unchecked.
Consequently, concerned stakeholders have called on APC leadership at both the state and national levels to closely monitor developments in Abak Federal Constituency and take necessary steps to protect the integrity of the party.
They insist that leadership should be founded on loyalty, discipline, transparency, and collective sacrifice rather than political calculations aimed at advancing personal or family interests.
Adding another dimension to the controversy, stakeholders have questioned what they describe as an emerging pattern of political succession within the Ekperikpe family.
Many observers have recalled that the last time the House of Representatives seat rotated to Ika Local Government Area, it was Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo himself who emerged as the representative.
They now ask why the same position should allegedly return to a member of the same family whenever it is zoned to Ika.
“What makes Ekperikpe Ekpo believe that every time the House of Representatives seat comes to Ika Local Government Area, it must remain within his family?” a concerned stakeholder queried.
“Has the House of Representatives seat become a family business?”
Stakeholders argue that public offices should remain open to all qualified and competent citizens rather than creating the impression of political inheritance.
They further contend that rather than allegedly sponsoring family members for elective positions, the Minister should focus on presenting his scorecard to the people as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas).
According to them, constituents deserve to know the tangible projects, investments, employment opportunities, and developmental achievements attracted to the constituency and Akwa Ibom State through his office.
Youth leaders from Abak and Ika Local Government Areas have also expressed concern over what they perceive as attempts to undermine the zoning arrangement that reportedly allocated the House of Representatives position to Abak.
According to them, stakeholders across the constituency had welcomed the zoning decision and were prepared to support a candidate with broad grassroots acceptance.
The youth leaders alleged that after realizing that his preferred aspirant, Hon. Clement Jimbo, was facing stiff opposition and declining acceptance among voters, the Minister allegedly opted for an alternative strategy by projecting his son under another political platform.
They maintained that such actions could jeopardize APC’s chances in the constituency and create unnecessary divisions within the party.
“The people of Abak deserve honesty, transparency, and fair competition. Political offices should not be treated as family property or instruments for preserving personal influence,” one youth leader stated.
An APC chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity warned that the party leadership must act decisively.
“If these allegations are true, the excesses of the Honourable Minister should be checked before they drag the party to the precipice. APC must not allow personal ambitions to override collective interests.”
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, many constituents insist that the House of Representatives seat belongs to the people of Abak Federal Constituency and should be occupied by whoever earns the confidence of the electorate through competence, credibility, and grassroots acceptance rather than through political arrangements perceived to advance family interests.
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