By Sammy Etuk
The growing agitation from Nsit Ibom Local Government Area over the Etinan Federal Constituency seat is not happening in isolation. It is the result of political decisions that have altered an existing zoning arrangement.
For weeks, voices from the area have insisted that 2023 was their turn to produce a member of the House of Representatives. That position is based on an earlier rotational understanding within the constituency.
That arrangement has already been set aside in practice. The expected sequence of representation across the local government areas was not followed when key decisions were taken on higher offices, particularly at the senatorial level. Once that sequence was interrupted, the balance that guided expectations within the constituency was no longer intact. As a result, the present claims are being made against a structure that has already been altered by earlier political actions.
The turning point came under the administration of former governor Udom Emmanuel, when the expected senatorial slot for the area was reassigned. That decision replaced the existing structure with a different political direction.
The present structure is based on that decision, and political actors have since operated within this adjusted arrangement, which now influences expectations and positions across the constituency.
The current senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Aniekan Bassey, occupies that position under the changed arrangement. At the House of Representatives level, Paul Ekpo represents Etinan Federal Constituency.
These outcomes are the direct result of decisions that have altered how offices are distributed within the area.
This is why the present demand to rely fully on the earlier zoning pattern presents a difficulty. That structure is no longer in operation in its original form.
Within the All Progressives Congress (APC), a consensus agreement has already been established ahead of 2027.
That agreement must be respected at all levels without exception.
The earlier zoning formula has been dismantled in practice, and the one-term representation pattern has also been altered.
It would therefore be unjust to allow only selected individuals to seek a second term while others are restricted.
If continuity is permitted, it must apply across board in line with the existing APC agreement.
Any selective application will create further imbalance within the constituency. There are also concerns that certain political interests within the area are attempting to undermine the APC agreement in order to position a preferred candidate, including possible family interests, ahead of future nominations.
The responsibility rests with the present administration under Umo Eno to ensure that decisions follow one consistent standard.
The Ibibio adage states: once a woman gives birth in the open market, asking her to close her legs afterward does not change what has already happened. It means that once a public action has taken place, its consequences remain.
The APC agreement has already set aside the one-term representation pattern. Both the senator and the member of the House of Representatives are entitled to seek a second term under the same arrangement. The governor, Umo Eno, is expected to uphold this within his senatorial district and the affected federal constituency in order to maintain fairness and prevent further disputes.
It is widely stated that former senator Effiong Bob, who has served as a political leader in the area, along with other key stakeholders, has a responsibility to support this established position to ensure stability and prevent avoidable tension within the federal constituency.
The issue is no longer about what existed before, but how to apply the present agreement in a consistent and balanced manner. Stability in Etinan Federal Constituency will depend on clear, even, and uniform application of that agreement, especially as party nominations are expected to commence from April 23rd in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable, making transparency in the process essential.
