As the build-up to the local government election gathers momentum in Akwa Ibom State, the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong, and the immediate past Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, have locked horns over the next chairman of Abak Local Government Area.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Abak had on June 18, met and zoned the next local government chairmanship slot to Afahaobong Clan, where the present chairman of the Transition Committee, Ekerete Inyang, comes from.

Therefore empowered by the development, the chairman has indicated interest to contest the election. The chairman’s aspiration has sparked heated controversy from other stakeholders, particularly those from other clans.

At the front of the agitation are the immediate past Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, and immediate past member that represented Abak Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Aniekan Umana, and the Managing Director, Akwa Ibom Property Investment Company (APICO), Mr. Patrick Udomfang, and others.

They reasoned that it would be unjust to zone the next chairmanship position to Afaha Obong Clan, which produced former chairman, Barr. Imo Williams, who served for three years and was succeeded by the present chairman, who equally served for three years and rolled over as chairman, Transition Committee.

It is gathered that the PDP hierarchy and stakeholders, including the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, PDP chapter and ward officers, party elders and youths have given the chairman a pat on the shoulder for a job well done and endorsed his third-term aspiration.

In a rejection letter to the state chairman of the PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan, former Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, immediate past member of the Federal House Of Representatives, Aniekan Umana, Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Property Investment Company, Patrick Udomfang, lamented bitterly and described the zoning as a kangaroo arrangement to extend the chairmanship slot to Afaha Obong Clan to a 12-year term.

They said there was no proper constitution of the party’s caucus, alleging that the zoning committee already has a mission.