Eno’s defection scuttles zoning system in Akwa Ibom

The defection of Umo Eno,  Governor of Akwa Ibom State, from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC on June, 8, 2025 did not only revived a sleeping party, but  scuttled the system of zoning and rotating political offices in the state.

There was an earlier formula of power sharing, but the zoning system was introduced by Ex Governor Victor Attah, who, after his tenure, zoned the governorship slot to Akwa Ibom North West ( Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District) for the first time in the history of the state.

Before then, governorship position revolved around the Ibibios, who are the majority group, occupying Akwa Ibom North East, Akwa Ibom South and even sprinkle into Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial districts of the state.

To address fears of allege domination and marginalization, then Governor Victor Attah initiated the system of rotation, which restored peaceful transition of power and  a sense of belonging among the groups in the state.

It was the system that produced Godswill Akpabio as the third democratically elected Governor of the state, though pundits believe Attah had his inlaw, Udoma Ekarika in mind, when he zoned the seat to Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

The system ran smoothly through Akpabio’s administration to Udom Emmanuel, who emerged from Akwa Ibom South (Eket Senatorial District) contests ,political offices and appointments from the local government to federal Constituencies and Senatorial seats.

Untill the introduction of the system, elections were characterized with violence, mudslinging, bloodletting,bitterness and unhealthy competitions.

The system restored peace, mutual respect, political inclusivity and liberalism in power sharing and appointments across the state.

However,  twenty six months into  his administration as the fifth democratically elected Governor of the state, June 8,2025 precisely, Umo Eno, defected from the PDP, a party that rode him to the government House, to the All Progressives Congress.

Expectedly, the narratives changed, and a battalion of followers, including his state EXCO and all appointees, save for Ini Ememobong and two members of the state House Of Assembly,  joined the Governor to  the new party.

Observers suspected that almost, if not all members of the Federal House of Representatives, State House of Assembly, Commissioners and other appointees, including strong supporters of the Governor, who nursed political aspirations in 2027, were left with no alternative than seek actualization on the same platform with the Governor.

Desperate ambitions of the new members created suspicion of plans to hijack the APC  structure from old members.

To alley fears and calm frayed nerves, strick adherence to the existing zoning system was suspended and a system of  selective endorsements replaced the zoning system.

Even though the zoning system restored peace and sanity among the PDP,  other parties viewed it as an unconstitutional system that breeds mediocrity,  and  a gimmick to disenfranchise and deny competent aspirants the opportunity to be voted for.

For one, the APC did not have a pronounced zoning system, owing to the fact that they never really experienced governance in the state.

The selective endorsement system found expression recently, when APC stakeholders from Akwa Ibom South, gathered in Eket and endorsed President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno for second term without a mention of the serving Senator, Ekong Sampson, who is also a member of the same party.

The stakeholders did not only  closed their lips on the second term aspiration of the  serving  Senator, but declared his position open for contest within his Federal Constituency, (not his local government)as was expected.

What that meant is that the position is no more zoned to his local government area and that might have ripple effect on others offices.

Iniobong John, Chairman APC media Network, had earlier confirmed the selective zoning system when he said the APC in Akwa Ibom has automatic tickets to Senator Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno only, advising other aspirants to  work for their victories.

He also noted that the party cannot ignore old members, who had been there at the expense of new members.

Business Day gathered that a truce has been reached to adopt a system that will ‘zone’ political  offices, not to areas, but among the old, who are called the aborigens and new members, who are refered to as the PDP bloc, to avoid perceived conflict and a possible implosion, which could genrate voter apathy in the next general elections.

The cat will however be let out of the bag during the APC primary elections coming up soon.

However, from all indications, Governor Umo Eno’s defection has scuttled the zoning system in Akwa Ibom State.