Defecting from one political party to another is neither new nor unique to Akwa Ibom State. In the 2015 general elections, for example, after he lost in the Primary Election, Obong Kufre Etuk, who represented Uruan State Constituency, vowed to reclaim the lost seat by defecting to APC.
At that same period, Mr. Uwem Udoma, who was unceremoniously removed as the Deputy Speaker while serving under the platform of PDP, also defected to APC. There are several other examples.
The reason the present defections are of interest is the caliber of defectors and the reasons the defectors state in public and in social media as the causes for their defections.
There are speculations in some quarters that have pinned down Mr. Nsima Ekere as the architect and the sole brain behind the current defections?
Several political analysts, with keen interests in Akwa Ibom State politics, are of the opinion that Nsima Ekere is causing political problems in Akwa Ibom State through empty promises and by spreading and promoting out-right lies to confuse political opportunists and those who align with him as his supporters.
Some of the analysts I spoke with, have urged his followers to seriously consider whether Nsima Ekere can secure the APC ticket and whether he has what it takes to defeat the incumbent governor. Before I continue, it is pertinent to briefly visit the prevailing political postures of Akwa Ibom State politics.
For the benefit of those who may not know, there are three federal senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom State; Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket. Of these three Senatorial Districts, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene have respectively produced two-term governors (Obong Victor Attah and Senator Godswill Akpabio respectively), who have served for a total of eight years The present governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who is from Eket District, is yet to complete his first term, which began in May, 2015.
There are millions of Akwa Ibom people with very highly-held convictions (especially political activists of Eket Senatorial District) that since Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts have produced governors who have served two-terms of eight years, Eket Senatorial Districts must also be given the chance for Udom Emmanuel to serve for two-terms of eight years. Therefore, according to the prevailing arguments, Governor Udom Emmanuel should be returned to office in 2019, unchallenged.
It is equally important to mention that the formula of mandatory two-term service (popularly known as zoning) is not written anywhere in the Constitution of Nigeria. Rather, it is a ploy which was crafted by leaders of PDP to sustain their stay in power.
The problem is that in the context of Akwa Ibom State politics, political activists have exploited zoning arrangement for their personal interest, making it to sound as if it is the law of the land; it is not!
Other than Senator John Akpanudoedehe, who has publicly expressed interest to enter the governorship race, no other individual from Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts seem to be interested in challenging the mandatory zoning formula.
It appears as if others (especially others from Eket Senatorial District) have decided to honor and respect the principle of zoning; never to come out and rock the boat---let Emmanuel Udom continue.
Enter Mr. Nsima Ekere!
Mr. Nsima Ekere wants to exploit the void left by others who might have been interested in joining the race, had it not been for their adherence to the principles of zoning. But if wedged in between political heavy-weights, such as Emmanuel Udom (the incumbent) and Senator Udoedehe (a seasoned campaigner and politician) does Nsima Ekere have the impetus to withstand the weights of these two politicians? Can Akwa Ibom people have any complete confidence in Nsima Ekere as their next governor? How do people feel about him as a politician? Does he have the political cloud in the state?
Part III will address the above questions; coming sooner than anticipated!
Written by
The Great Ikpafak Thompson Essien
The Voice of the Poor Masses
Defender of the Oppressed
Social Critic
A native if Ibibio nation of Ubium Republic extraction, now living in the safe and beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, where no AKPF, ADUMA, ADV, and Akwa Ibom State politicians can reach.
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