The Ini Peoples’ Forum (IPF) has dismissed claims of marginalisation against Odoro Ikono in the representation of Ini State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, describing the allegation as misleading, politically motivated and unsupported by facts.
Reacting to a communiqué circulated by a group styling itself as “Concerned Citizens Forum of Odoro Ikono/Ukwok,” the Forum said the narrative being pushed was a deliberate attempt to distort established political arrangements in Ini Local Government Area and undermine the performance of the current lawmaker, Hon. (Dcn.) Lawrence Udoide.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the IPF stressed that representation in the State House of Assembly is neither by allocation nor concession, but through a constitutional and competitive electoral process, adding that whoever emerges through a duly conducted election is entitled to serve the entire constituency for the legally prescribed tenure.
The Forum noted that the agitation ignored the long-standing political structure of Ini LGA, which is zoned into two major blocs — the former Ini State Constituency and the former Ikono II State Constituency — between which the House of Assembly seat rotates.
According to the IPF, zoning in Ini has never been operated at sub-zone level, but strictly between the two major blocs, with contests thereafter determined by wards within the zone where the seat is domiciled.
It pointed out that Ukwok Ward 10, which produced Hon. Udoide in 2023, had not produced either a House of Assembly member or a Local Government Chairman for over three decades prior to his emergence, describing his election as a correction of long-standing imbalance rather than an act of exclusion.
The Forum also cited historical records to show that previous occupants of the seat from both blocs completed uninterrupted eight-year tenures, insisting that equity, justice and precedent demand that Hon. Udoide be allowed to complete a similar tenure.
On claims that Odoro Ikono had never produced a House of Assembly member, the IPF described the assertion as false, recalling that Arc. Smart Ekanem from Ikono North I Ward represented the constituency in 1992.
The group further faulted what it described as selective outrage by some of the principal actors behind the agitation, noting that several of them had benefitted from the same political structure they now seek to discredit.
While affirming that every qualified individual retains the constitutional right to contest elections, the IPF urged party leaders and stakeholders to disregard what it called attempts by a few disgruntled elements to manufacture crisis for political relevance.
The Forum reaffirmed its full support for the endorsement of Hon. Lawrence Udoide for a second term by Ini stakeholders, describing him as a vocal, fearless and effective representative who has raised the bar of representation for the constituency.
While also reaffirming their total support for Governor Umo Eno's second term which the Ini people said it is a must, it called on Hon Udoide to remain focused on his legislative duties and urged the people of Ini to continue to support him, stressing that the seat is expected to rotate back to the former Ini State Constituency at the end of the current cycle in line with existing arrangements.
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