The atmosphere at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Uyo, was somber as Governor Umo Eno swore in newly elected local government chairmen. Despite the formality of the event, the disappointment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was palpable, with party members showing visible frustration. Even Governor Eno acknowledged that “people are angry.”
The PDP’s discontent stems from the unexpected outcome in Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA), where the chairmanship seat was won by the All Progressives Congress (APC). This defeat was particularly striking as Essien Udim is the home LGA of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The PDP had expected a clean sweep in the elections, but the outcome in this LGA triggered accusations of betrayal and political compromise.
On Saturday evening, Professor Inyang Atting of the University of Uyo, the assigned Returning Officer (RO) for the Essien Udim chairmanship polls, declared Enobong Patrick Friday, the PDP candidate, as the winner. This announcement was captured in a video that went viral. However, by Sunday, the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), led by Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, issued a Certificate of Return to Ntiedo Usoro of the APC, listing him as the chairmanship winner for Essien Udim.
This reversal fueled anger among PDP stakeholders, who accused the governor of “selling out” the party in favor of Senate President Akpabio. They alleged that the victory had been upturned to prevent Akpabio from suffering political embarrassment.
Despite the widespread dominance of the PDP in the elections, with other political parties hardly contesting, the controversy in Essien Udim overshadowed the rest of the results. Some analysts argue that the PDP’s loss in Akpabio’s LGA was a strategic concession by Governor Eno to maintain a political alliance with the Senate President. However, the governor firmly denied these allegations, affirming that while he respected Akpabio, they could still disagree on party issues.