Group raises concern over political imbalance in Oron, urges Governor Eno to restore equity

A socio-political group has called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, to intervene in what it described as a growing political imbalance in Oron Federal Constituency.

In an open letter addressed to the governor, and signed by the group chairman Samuel Duncan PhD, comrade Victor Efiong Onomo Secretary Prince Edenseting PhD, Director Media & Publicity and made available to the Daily Times on Tuesday, the group commended his leadership style, describing it as inclusive, development-driven and reflective of fairness and justice.

However, it expressed concern over what it termed a disruption of the long-standing rotational arrangement for the House of Representatives seat within the constituency.

The group noted that Oron Federal Constituency, comprising Mbo, Okobo, Oron, Urue-Offong/Oruko and Udung Uko Local Government Areas, had historically maintained an informal zoning system to ensure equitable political representation.

According to the letter, all LGAs except Udung Uko have produced representatives at the National Assembly since 1959, making the area the only one yet to occupy the position.

It further outlined a pattern in which the House of Representatives seat rotated among LGAs in two-term cycles, citing representation by Urue-Offong/Oruko (1999–2007), Okobo (2007–2015), and Mbo (2015–2023), while Oron held the Senate seat during the same period.

The group argued that, based on this arrangement, Udung Uko should have produced the next representative in 2023. However, it alleged that the emergence of Martins Esin from Oron LGA disrupted the sequence, a development it claimed was influenced by the current Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi.

It warned that the concentration of key political offices in Oron LGA, which also holds the deputy governorship, could weaken political participation and undermine unity within the constituency.

The group also referenced past resistance to similar concentration of power, recalling that leaders from Oron LGA had opposed a comparable situation in 2015.

While raising concerns about perceived favoritism and alleged moves to further consolidate political positions within a single LGA, the group emphasized that its position was not driven by hostility but by a desire to preserve fairness and stability in the area.

To address the situation, the group proposed that the House of Representatives seat be ceded to Udung Uko LGA in the next electoral cycle. Alternatively, it suggested that if Oron LGA retains the seat, the deputy governorship could be zoned to another LGA within the constituency to ensure balance.

The letter stressed that equitable distribution of political offices remains critical to sustaining unity and trust within Oron Federal Constituency, urging the governor to take steps to restore what it described as a longstanding tradition of fairness.