2027 election already concluded, 26 assembly tickets in my pocket – Akwa Ibom Speaker

2027 election already concluded, 26 assembly tickets in my pocket – Akwa Ibom Speaker

The Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets controversy has sparked public anger after the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, declared that the 2027 legislative elections were already decided.

In a viral Facebook video, the lawmaker claimed he holds decisive power over Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets, insisting no one would enter the assembly without his approval.

Speaker’s claims spark outrage

The comments were made during a courtesy visit by the Ibom Grassroots Development Initiative to his country home in Abak Itenge, held to mark his 2025 birthday.

In the footage, Mr Otong boasted that all Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets under the All Progressives Congress were already secured by him.

“All the tickets are already in my pocket,” Mr Otong said in the video.

All the 26 House of Assembly tickets are already in my pocket. I single-handedly negotiated for them, no one else. No one else did. I will personally choose who becomes a House of Assembly member and hand the ticket to the person from my pocket,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State has 26 lawmakers in its assembly, a fact central to the debate around Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets.

Until June, all lawmakers belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party before 24 defected alongside Governor Umo Eno to the APC.

Mr Eno had explained that his decision followed wide consultations, including discussions with the legislature.

Political observers had speculated that the defecting lawmakers may have been promised automatic Akwa Ibom Assembly tickets for the 2027 elections.

Mr Otong, who represents Abak State Constituency, is currently serving his second term in the assembly.

In the same video, he said, “No one will emerge without my approval,” adding that candidates must be acceptable to the governor.