A socio-political group in Akwa Ibom State, the Uyo Liberation Movement (ULM), has called on political parties operating in the state to zone the seat of Uyo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to Offot Ukwa Clan. This move, according to the group, would enable the clan to produce the lawmaker representing Uyo in the state assembly during the 2027 elections.
The demand was contained in a 13-point communique jointly signed by the group's President, Barr. Udeme Ekott, and Secretary General, Elder (Prince) Emmanuel Sam, on May 17, 2026, in Uyo. The group expressed concern over attempts by certain individuals to disrupt the existing zoning arrangement in Uyo, which has maintained peace in the local government area since the return of democracy in 1999.
Part of the release read: “That Uyo Liberation Movement (ULM) was birthed following the need to have a neutral, independent, and strong voice to advocate the interest of Uyo Local Government and her people ahead of the 2027 election. ULM has observed the deliberate attempt by certain individuals who do not mean well for Uyo, to disrupt the existing zoning formula of the Uyo House of Assembly seat, which has fostered peace and unity among the people since the return of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.”
The group stated categorically that it is the turn of Offot Clan to produce the lawmaker representing Uyo in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly come 2027. They lamented that the current lawmaker lacks the capacity to provide effective representation and should not be allowed to return in 2027.
“ULM states emphatically that it is the right of Offot Ukwa Clan to produce the next House of Assembly member for Uyo State Constituency in 2027, as Uyo has operated a one-term formula in the House of Assembly.”
“ULM strongly kicks against the plan to short-change Uyo by rewarding a non-performing representative with a second term, thereby dragging the local government backwards as well as disrupting the political arrangement that has unified the people for so many years.”
“ULM further states that it will amount to a total waste of another four years to give a second term to a representative whom the powers that be do not consider qualified to occupy a key principal office in the State Assembly, except they want to embarrass Uyo,” the communique added.
ULM called on sons and daughters of Offot Ukwa Clan to contest in the 2027 election and expressed willingness to work with any political party that zones the Uyo State Constituency party ticket to Offot Ukwa Clan.
“ULM foresees a lose-lose scenario for Uyo should a non-performing representative be given a second term to continue his poor performance while also failing to secure at least the position of a Deputy Speaker in the next Assembly.”
“ULM is non-partisan but will be ready to work across board with any political party or parties that are willing to support justice and fairness by presenting a House of Assembly candidate from Offot Ukwa Clan.”
“We call on all sons and daughters of Offot Ukwa Clan who are eminently qualified to contest for the House of Assembly to be bold to do so in any political party and never to be intimidated.”
ULM reminded the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State that the people of Uyo are not strangers to opposition politics and will not hesitate to work with any political party that protects the collective interest of the people.
“ULM wants to remind the ruling party that Uyo people are not new to opposition politics and will make that bold statement at the polls in 2027, the same way they spoke in 2011. Uyo Local Government Area is the seat of power, and we deserve better,” ULM concluded.
