Ruth NWORIE
The Council of Traditional Rulers in UKanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State has endorsed the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr Unyime Idem, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Paramount ruler of Ukanafun, HRM Akuku Amos Akpan and his Oruk Anam counterpart, HRM Akuku Johnson Obosi, together with clan heads and village heads of all the communities in the federal constituency were unanimous in endorsing him for the election.
Last week, Idem had been chosen by stakeholders in the constituency to fly the APC flag for the election. The decision was said to have had the imprimatur of both the state governor, Dr Umoe Eno, who is equally the leader of the party in the state, as well as the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Since the announcement of his emergence through a consensus arrangement, other aspirants have since surrendered. The popular opinion is that Idem has done so well in the last seven years and deserve to be supported to go for a third term, even though nobody in the constituency has attained that feat since 1999.
The motion for his endorsement was moved by the Chairman, Conference of Village Heads, Oruk Anam Local Government Area and Village Head of Ikot Ibritam, Chief Ubong Obadiah and was seconded by the Village Head of Ikot Akpan Afaha, Ukanafun Local Government Area, Chief Iniobong Akpaiya Udom, and ratified by the two paramount rulers.
The traditional rulers also pledged to mobilize their subjects to deliver massive votes for the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the senate president, the state governor and other APC candidates.
They hinged their decision to support Idem because of what they called his superlative performance in office, noting that his record of projects and empowerment programmes had set a benchmark for legislative representation across the country.
They stressed that he had transformed the federal constituency into a model admired by others nationwide and that he deserved another term to deepen and expand the progress already made.
Responding, Idem thanked the traditional rulers for the endorsement, noting that the gesture had strengthened his resolve to do more for the federal constituency.
He pleaded with them to return to their respective communities and sensitise their subjects on the importance of active participation in the electoral process, stressing that massive voter turnout will be critical in securing victory for the President, the Senate President, the State Governor, himself and other candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next elections.
“I solicit that you mobilise your people. Encourage them to come out en masse and vote. Your role is crucial to ensuring continuity, stability, and sustained development in our constituency and beyond,” Idem said.
