In Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday, the APC Media Network criticised the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, over comments he made in a viral video about the 2027 elections. The group, which operates within the All Progressives Congress, said the remarks were wrong and went against democratic practice, and it asked the Speaker to withdraw the statement and apologise to party members.
The issue arose after a video circulated on social media showing the Speaker speaking in Ibibio during a meeting with his constituents. In the video, he claimed that all 26 APC House of Assembly tickets for the 2027 general election were under his control and that no aspirant could secure the party’s ticket without his approval. He also suggested that the outcome of the legislative elections had already been settled.
The comments were reportedly made during a visit by members of the Ibom Grassroots Development Initiative to the Speaker’s country home in Abak Itenge, where they had gone to mark his birthday. The video later spread widely online and drew reactions from party members across the state.
Responding in a statement issued in Uyo, the Director-General of the APC Media Network, Iniobong John, said the Speaker’s remarks offended party members who had worked for years to build the APC in Akwa Ibom. He said the comments gave the impression that party structures and processes had been taken over by personal interest, which he described as unacceptable.
The group stated that the Speaker had no power under the party’s rules to decide who gets APC tickets or to keep them in his custody. It warned that such claims weaken internal democracy and disregard the authority of the party’s recognised organs, which are responsible for conducting primaries and selecting candidates.
The APC Media Network also said the party existed in the state long before the Speaker joined it and that many loyal members had remained committed despite challenges. According to the group, these members deserve respect and equal opportunity to contest elective positions through fair party processes.
In addition, the group urged the Speaker to follow the example of leaders in the state and at the national level who promote unity and cooperation within the party. It also called on the national leadership of the APC to step in and address the situation.
The group concluded by stating that APC tickets are not personal property and that candidates for the 2027 elections must emerge through transparent procedures set out in the party’s constitution and guidelines.