By Divine Sam
Fresh political developments in Akwa Ibom State have sparked discussions within the political landscape of Abak Federal Constituency following reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has distanced himself from the political ambitions of his first son, Marshall Ekpo, over differences in political affiliation.
The controversy emerged after reports indicated that Marshall Ekpo secured a ticket to contest for the House of Representatives under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a development that generated concerns among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Some political stakeholders alleged that the minister’s son’s aspiration on a different party platform could create division within the APC’s support base in Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency.
However, the minister’s media aide reportedly dismissed claims that Ekperikpe Ekpo was backing or sponsoring any such political ambition, insisting that no son of the minister was contesting any election and describing the allegations as an attempt to blackmail and discredit the minister for political reasons.
Political observers believe the situation reflects growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several politicians and their family members reportedly taking different political paths. While family members are constitutionally entitled to their individual political choices, analysts say such developments often raise questions about party loyalty, political influence and electoral calculations within their respective constituencies.
As the political atmosphere continues to evolve, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the reported differences will have any significant impact on the political fortunes of major parties in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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