Akwa Ibom Speaker Claims He Already Controls 2027 Election Tickets

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, has made a controversial claim about future elections. He stated that the 2027 general elections are "already concluded" in his area. He also said he personally holds the nomination tickets for all 26 state assembly seats in Akwa Ibom. A nomination ticket is the official approval to run as a party's candidate. A political group within the state's All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized the speaker. The group, the APC Integrity Forum, called his statements "insensitive and undemocratic." The remarks were made at a public event. They have sparked concerns about fair political competition years before the elections are scheduled to take place.