• Otobong Nsekpong

The Executive Director of Federal Housing Authority, Arch Ezekiel Nya Etok has predicted overwhelming victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The Presidential and National Assembly election will take place on the 16th of January, 2027 with President Tinubu as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress.

He is slugging it out with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of ADC, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi of NDC, former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke of the People Redemption Party, PRP and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state contesting on the Allied People’s Movement and others.

Speaking with journalist in Uyo recently, Arch Nya Etok said the political situation in Nigeria today gives the incumbent an electoral advantage which the opposition parties lack.

He argued that if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar takes over power today, the southern part of the country will look at it as a northern conspiracy saying the same mob approach that removed Dr.Goodluck Jonathan from office and brought Buhari did not do proper background check to know if Buhari was a greater or lesser evil.

“*Atiku’s presidency will compromise the peace in the southern region of the country. In Akwa Ibom we, have come to accept rotational leadership, if political power is taken again from the southern part of Nigeria, only God will be able to hold us together as a country ”

On Mr Peter Obi’s aspiration, he said the four years of, Peter Obi, if he wins, will be the worst in the history of political development in Nigeria, maintaining that, the level of expectations from his presidency is already too high for the four years he has accepted.

On the issue of coming to fight corruption, he said emphatically that, corruption cannot be removed in Nigeria because all Nigerians are in corrupt.

“As an executive director, how much is my salary after tax? I am expected to service political structure, what if I have children in school? What about health care? where is the money coming from if you are not corrupt? The person who tells you he is coming to remove corruption is either lying or not well informed.

“Before Peter Obi takes decision on corruption, one, two months have passed. To take the country from consumption to production you will need power or how do you intend to make one dollar equals one naira is not possible” he concluded.

He also carpeted Atiku for saying this is his last chance to be President saying, after 2027, people will still go and bring Atiku back with the claim that it is the turn of the north.

He maintained that Tinubu’s presidency beyond 2027 will bring political stability in Nigeria as no candidate will come from the south in 2031 at the completion of Tinubu’s presidency.

He listed the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include more money to subnational where they are able to meet up with their obligations like payment of salaries, pension and gratuity.
“When you return subsidy, it means you return to the era, states were not able to meet their financial responsibility.”

He also descended on those who use hunger to campaign saying people are hungry is not a manifesto stressing that politics is not a straight line but triangular with the people in government on one side and the people who want to form government on the other hand while the voters are on top.

“People are hungry is a situation report and not a solution. Let the people who want to form government tell the people how they intend to achieve their plans for the country”.

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno Ph.D, has called for transparency from lawmakers giving back to their constituents during empowerment programmes.

According to the governor, this has become necessary to put the records straight especially as beneficiaries most times turn around to deny being empowered by people in government.

Addressing a large turnout of people during the empowerment programm organized by the Leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Barr Otobong Bob, in Nsit Ubuim, the governor said names, ward of origin should be properly captured in the souvenir programm for all to see who and who have been empowered.

The governor also used the occasion to appeal to the people of Nsit political bloc in Nsit Ubuim state constituency to accept Rt. Hon Otobong Bob’s 2027 re- election bid since the governor of the state is from Nsit nation, saying, it was only proper that Ubuim political bloc be allowed to represent the state constituency.

He commended the lawmaker who is the governor’s representative in the House of Assembly for giving back to his constituents pointing out that by the event of the day, he has fulfilled his duties as a lawmaker.

“You have moved motion, you have sponsored bills and now you are giving back to the people. It is good to know that a bird that flies in the air, his legs face the ground. You have done well to return home today”

Governor Umo Eno also commended the state legislature for the support and cooperation with the executive arm of government which has resulted in the success of his administration in the last three years. “In all areas, this administration has been rated high at all level” he said.

He also gave reasons why his campaign council was yet to be constituted saying, he was waiting for the inauguration of the the APC presidential campaign council.

Governor Umo Eno however announced that the 2027 campaign will take a different format as it will be done at the ward level. “I am not saying there will be no rallies, no we will have rallies but we must deliver our respective wards. I will be leading my ward and I also expect you to deliver your ward to the APC. The just concluded commissioning of 39 projects to mark Akwa Ibom at 39 was also part of our campaign”

The empowerment programme was chaired by Obong Umana Okon Umana, former Minister of Niger Delta while goodwill messages were delivered by the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Member representing Etinan Federal Constituency, Obong Paul Ekpo, Senator Aniekan Bassey who graced the occasion with other members of the National Assembly.

Rt. Hon Otobong Bob is the son of the political leader of Uyo Senatorial district, Senator Effiong Bob and by 2027 he will be in the House of Assembly for three consecutive terms.

As the count down to the 2027 general elections in Nigeria continues, Police authority in Akwa Ibom State has reiterated their neutrality in the electoral process.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP. Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, stated this during a paper presentation at a two day statewide seminar on violence free election held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to the Police boss, men and officers of his command will maintain a high level of professionalism all through the electioneering period, maintaining that, members of the police force does not have any candidate nor belong to any political party.

He stressed that the Police has a duty to protect voters, INEC officials, secure electoral materials, prevent attacks at polling units, coalition centres facilitate the work of journalists and above all, remain neutral.

He warmed against partiality among officers on election duties saying, the same level of protection given to the ruling party must be extended to members of the opposition party and highlighted the importance of inter agencies collaboration towards a violence free election in 2027.

“Nigerian police does not not have candidate and political party.
Our candidate is peace and our political party is the Constitution”

CP Baba Azare said a violence free election starts from the political rallies, campaign speeches before the actual election day calling on all stakeholders to act according to the electoral act and Constitution of the Federal Republica of Nigeria.
” In conclusion, the credibility of our election is not determined by what happened at the polling booth but also determined by what happened around the polling booth. Did voters arrive early, did they vote freely, were the electoral officers work without fear, were votes counted freely, was result secured, did winners celebrate responsibly, did the losers accept defeat without resorting to violence? These are questions surrounding electoral violence before the police and every other stakeholder.”

In his presentation, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Prof Anugbum Onuoha, said the commission has initiated strategies to reduce voter’s apathy in the forthcoming election. He reassured the people that INEC under his watch will uphold the sanctity of the ballot as well as adhere strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

The two day seminar was declared open by the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD who said the government will continue to pursue security and well being of the citizens.

Represented by the deputy governor, Senator Akon Akon Eyakenyi, Ph.D, the governor stressed that belonging to different political parties did not make Akwa Ibom people less united, reminding political actors that after elections, citizens would continue to live together, worship together, trade together, raise their children in the same communities and share a common destiny.

He therefore charged politicians to demonstrate leadership through their language and conduct, warning against divisive rhetoric, incitement and the mobilisation of youth for violence.

According to him, “young people deserve opportunities, education, skills, jobs and a future, rather than being recruited, armed or manipulated for political purposes.”