2027: “All 26 tickets are in my pocket; I’ll choose who becomes Assembly member” — Akwa Ibom Speaker

The Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets controversy has sparked public anger after the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, declared that the 2027 legislative elections were already decided.

In a viral Facebook video, the lawmaker claimed he holds decisive power over Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets, insisting no one would enter the assembly without his approval.

Speaker’s claims spark outrage

The comments were made during a courtesy visit by the Ibom Grassroots Development Initiative to his country home in Abak Itenge, held to mark his 2025 birthday.

In the footage, Mr Otong boasted that all Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets under the All Progressives Congress were already secured by him.

“All the tickets are already in my pocket,” Mr Otong said in the video.

“All the 26 House of Assembly tickets are already in my pocket. I single-handedly negotiated for them, no one else. No one else did. I will personally choose who becomes a House of Assembly member and hand the ticket to the person from my pocket,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State has 26 lawmakers in its assembly, a fact central to the debate around Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets.

Until June, all lawmakers belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party before 24 defected alongside Governor Umo Eno to the APC.

Mr Eno had explained that his decision followed wide consultations, including discussions with the legislature.

Political observers had speculated that the defecting lawmakers may have been promised automatic Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets for the 2027 elections.

Mr Otong, who represents Abak State Constituency, is currently serving his second term in the assembly.

In the same video, he said, “No one will emerge without my approval,” adding that candidates must be acceptable to the governor.

It remains unclear whether Governor Eno or the APC leadership endorsed any arrangement affecting Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets.

Neither the APC state chairperson, Stephen Ntukekpo, nor the party’s spokesperson, Otoabasi Udo, responded to calls for comment.

APC group condemns remarks

An APC-affiliated group, the APC Media Network, has criticised the speaker’s comments as anti-democratic and misleading.

The group’s director, Iniobong John, said the remarks wrongly portrayed Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets as personal property rather than party decisions.

According to the statement, only recognised party organs have the authority to determine APC candidacies.

“For avoidance of doubt, the speaker has no constitutional or moral authority to determine the APC candidacies or to custody party ticket,” the statement stated.

The group stressed that long-standing members built the APC in Akwa Ibom before Mr Otong’s defection.

It warned that such claims could sideline loyal members and weaken internal democracy around Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets.

The group urged Mr Otong to retract the statement and apologise publicly to party members.

It also called on the APC national leadership to reaffirm that Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets will emerge through transparent and competitive primaries.

‘My third term is guaranteed’

Mr Otong also spoke confidently about securing a third term, claiming the 2027 election outcome was already settled.

Using a biblical analogy, he told supporters not to fear political opposition.

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t behave like the Israelites, who were afraid of the sea after they were delivered from the Egyptians,” he said.

“God made a way where there was none. I was delivered in the first and second terms.

“I was not interested in the third term, but the person who asked me to aspire for the third term said he wants to continue working with me (the speaker),” he said.

He did not disclose the identity of the individual he referred to.

Efforts to reach Mr Otong for further comments, including calls and a text message, were unsuccessful.