Udung Uko Writes Governor Umo Eno, Blasts Political Imbalance
….Demands Reps Seat, Deputy Gov Slot Shift in Oron
The people of Udung Uko Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State have formally written to Governor Umo Eno, demanding urgent political rebalancing in Oron Federal Constituency and warning against what they describe as a growing concentration of power in Oron LGA.
In a strongly worded letter titled “Restoring Equity in Oron Federal Constituency,” signed by leaders of the group, Samuel Duncan, PhD, Chairman, Comrade Victor Efiong Onomo, Secretary, and Prince Edenseting, PhD, Director of Media & Publicity.
They lauded the governor’s “purpose-driven, development-oriented and people-centered leadership,” noting that his administration has fostered unity and inclusiveness across the state.
However, they expressed deep concern over what they called a “growing sense of political imbalance” among the five LGAs that make up the constituency, Mbo, Okobo, Oron, Urue-Offong/Oruko and Udung Uko.
The group highlighted that, historically, an informal rotation ensured that each LGA had a fair shot at the House of Representatives seat, but lamented that Udung Uko remains the only LGA that has never produced a National Assembly member since 1959.
While outlining the rotational pattern which include Urue-Offong/Oruko (1999–2007 – House of Representatives), Okobo (2007–2015 – House of Representatives), Mbo (2015–2023 – House of Representatives), Oron (2015–2023 – Senate), they said that logically, the next opportunity should have gone to Udung Uko LGA,” but was denied.
The stakeholders said the rotation was disrupted in 2023 when Martins Esin from Oron LGA emerged as the House of Representatives member, alleging that the outcome was influenced by the current Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi, whom they accused of using her political leverage to “truncate Udung Uko’s expected turn.”
According to them, this has resulted in an unhealthy concentration of political power in Oron LGA, which already holds the Deputy Governorship.
Drawing a historical parallel, the group recalled that in 2015, leaders from Oron LGA strongly resisted a similar concentration of power in Mbo LGA and they queried , “If such concentration was unacceptable then, why should the rule change now?”.
They further alleged a “troubling pattern” suggesting favoritism, noting that Rep. Esin is “a long-time schoolmate and close associate of the Deputy Governor’s son,” a situation they say has fueled perceptions of nepotism.
The group also raised concerns, though unconfirmed that efforts may be underway to position the Deputy Governor’s son for the Oron/Udung Uko State Assembly seat.
The stakeholders warned that allowing Oron LGA to retain the House of Representatives seat in 2027 would amount to 16 uninterrupted years in the National Assembly since 2015, while Udung Uko remains completely excluded.
To restore balance, the group presented two clear options to the governor: they called on him to cede the House of Representatives seat to Udung Uko LGA in 2027, describing it as their “rightful opportunity…willfully truncated in 2023.” Alternatively, they stated that if Oron LGA retains the seat, the next Deputy Governor should be appointed from another LGA within Oro Nation, outside Oron, to ensure a more equitable distribution of political power.
