A political storm is brewing in the Effiat community of Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, following controversial social media reports claiming that stakeholders of Effiat Ikpoto have endorsed the incumbent Council Chairman, Hon. Sunday Okon Etim, for a second term.
Community leaders have swiftly moved to deny the claims, labelling the reports as “false, deceptive,” and a threat to communal peace.
Speaking to journalists, Tuesday, the chairman of Effiat Ikpoto Ward 1, Mr. Mfon Oko, and his Ward 2 counterpart, Mr. Paul Asukwo, clarified that no such endorsement took place during a recent stakeholders’ meeting held in Uyo.
The chairmen explained that the gathering, hosted at the residence of Chief Eyo Edet, was convened for a singular purpose: to allow Hon. Etim to formally thank the Effiat community for their support during his transition and subsequent election as substantive chairman.
“The meeting was long overdue,” the ward chairmen noted. “Since assuming office nearly two years ago, Hon. Etim had not held a formal meeting with Effiat stakeholders. This was strictly an appreciation visit.”
In a strongly worded statement, the stakeholders urged the public to disregard the “misleading narrative” circulating online.
Key points from their rebuttal include that at no point was a second-term bid discussed or put to a vote.
The meeting concluded immediately after the Council chairman expressed his gratitude, and attendees departed without signing any endorsement documents.
While the stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2027 re-election bids of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno, they explicitly stated that this support does not currently extend to the local government chairmanship.
The ward chairmen warned that the fabricated report is already sowing seeds of division within Effiat. To reinforce the credibility of their rebuttal, they listed several prominent attendees who witnessed the proceedings, including:
Mr. Bassey Asuquo, Mr. Etim Okon Uso, Mr. Okokon Itabana, Mr. Godwin Edet, Joseph Effiong, and Nyong Archibong Okon
The leaders concluded by insisting that the Effiat community remains focused on genuine development rather than “manufactured political consent.”
This story highlights a common friction point in Akwa Ibom local politics: the transition from “appointed/transition” leadership to “elected/executive” status and the expectations of the grassroots.
