Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, political activities are gathering momentum across Akwa Ibom State, with aspirants and political parties intensifying consultations with stakeholders, community leaders and interest groups in a bid to strengthen their support base before campaigns officially commence.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections to begin in August, while governorship and state assembly campaigns are expected to start in September, many aspirants seeking seats in the 26-member Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have already embarked on consultations across their constituencies.
The early political engagements reflect growing efforts by candidates to consolidate grassroots support ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive election season.
Akwa Ibom has remained a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. However, the political landscape shifted significantly following Governor Umo Eno’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2025. His move triggered a wave of defections by most members of the State Executive Council and elected lawmakers, strengthening the APC’s presence in the state.
The PDP has also continued to grapple with internal leadership disputes at both the national and state levels, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s leadership. Political observers believe the lingering crisis has weakened the opposition party ahead of the elections.
Some analysts argue that the APC currently enjoys a strategic advantage and could secure widespread support across Akwa Ibom’s three senatorial districts rather than relying on any particular voting bloc.
Political analyst, Thomas Thomas, said electoral success would ultimately depend on the collective decision of the electorate rather than political intimidation.
“As democracy is founded on persuasion, not intimidation, on the ballot and not blackmail, the 2027 governorship election will be decided as always by the collective will of the people,” he said.
He added, “No campaign of political coercion can substitute for the majority mandate that ultimately determines electoral victory.”
Commenting on the growing ethnic debates involving the Ibibio majority and the Oro ethnic nationality, Thomas urged political actors to embrace dialogue and constitutional means in pursuing their interests.
“Those who genuinely seek justice should advance their arguments through dialogue, evidence and constitutional processes and not veiled threats against the democratic choice of millions of Akwa Ibom people,” he said.
Checks by our correspondent indicated that political exchanges, accusations and counter-accusations have increasingly dominated social media as parties mobilise supporters ahead of the polls.
In Onna Local Government Area, APC House of Assembly candidate Nelson Ntia recently met with members of the Afaha Unity Forum, representing communities in Afaha Inang, Awa Afaha Clan, to seek their support ahead of the election.
During the meeting, Ntia assured the gathering that if elected, he would uphold fairness, justice and equity in representing the constituency.
The former Secretary of Onna Local Government Council said his years of political service, including his role as Director-General of a campaign organisation that produced a member of the House of Representatives, had prepared him for the task ahead.
He also pledged to rebuild unity across the constituency.
“I am here to ask for your support and cooperation to go to the House of Assembly, divisions and disunity in the local government will create problems, it is better for us to be connected to the current administration at the centre and let us return to the brotherhood that existed before 1999,” he said.
Ntia’s consultation is considered politically significant because Onna remains the only state constituency represented by a PDP lawmaker who retained his seat after declining to join other legislators in defecting to the APC in 2025.
The area is also the home of former Governor Udom Emmanuel, who remains an influential PDP figure despite recently urging residents to support President Bola Tinubu as “our leader.”
As a result, political observers see Onna as one of the key battlegrounds in the forthcoming state assembly election, with many PDP loyalists, including the council chairman, Kufre Umoren, remaining in the opposition party.
Accompanied by APC leaders, including the party’s chapter chairman, Tom Nkanang; his campaign Director-General, Akaninyene Idem; former council chairman, Imoh Attat; and the party’s woman leader, Ntia assured members of the forum that he would reciprocate their support if elected.
Responding on behalf of the forum, its President, Elijah Okon John, a Professor of Philosophy at the University, commended the APC candidate for engaging the community.
He said the forum was pleased to receive the first political delegation to formally consult it regarding an electoral ambition and assured the candidate that the visit would yield positive results.
Okon also expressed concern over what he described as years of political neglect of the four communities, saying they had resolved to play a more active role in determining their political future.
According to him, the forum also intends to seek the support of neighbouring communities for its aspiration to produce the next chairman of Onna Local Government, noting that the area had never occupied the position since the council’s creation.
Other speakers at the consultation included prominent hotelier Ini Akpabio and businessman and community leader Ekanem Noah, who also addressed participants during the meeting.
