Nigeria: Akwa Ibom Governorship Race: Die Is Cast

The race to the Hill-Top Mansion in Akwa Ibom State, the Land Of Promise is hours away. There is a contender and there are pretenders. Who will carry the day? Who will finally be elected or imposed? Will the vote of the people be allowed to count? Or will the Akwa Ibom witness Uncommon Rigging this time around? Stakes are high and the die is cast!


Divided views hold sway concerning whom the people will elect, to govern them till 2019. Some are of the opinion that rotational principle be upheld while others believe that the state should not be an opposition to the government at the centre. In democracy, everybody is entitled to opinions and the power to choose whomsoever exclusively belong to the people of Akwa Ibom state, whether it is rotation or no rotation, opposition party to the centre or not.

The popular candidates in the State are Bishop Samuel Akpan of Accord Party (AP), Mr. Umana Okon Umana of All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Helen Esuene of Labour Party (LP).

The senatorial Districts in Akwa Ibom are Eket, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene and interestingly, three of the four popular candidates are from Eket Senatorial District. Only APC candidate is from Uyo Senatorial District.

It is the believe of many stakeholders in the state, that Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts, having each produced two term governors in Obong Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio respectively, the next governor should come from Eket Senatorial District,for the sake of equity.

Whether their believe will translate to vote, is left to be seen in the next coming hours. In all these permutations and calculations, the peoples' vote must be allowed to decide whom they truly need as the next governor. It must reflect the collective will and choice of the people of Akwa Ibom State.