Concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Ikom Local Government Area are urging Governor Bassey Otu to drop a reported plan that would return current chapter chairmen—including Ikom’s—and in the process override the area’s long-standing zoning formula.
Ikom is divided into two state constituencies that traditionally alternate key posts: when the APC chapter chairman comes from Constituency 2, the council chairmanship goes to Constituency 1, and vice versa. Stakeholders say the arrangement has kept the party stable and inclusive.
At present, Constituency 1 holds the council chairmanship and Constituency 2 holds the party chapter chairmanship. Following that rotation, they argue, the next chapter chairman should come from Constituency 1 so the council chair can move to Constituency 2 in the next cycle.
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They acknowledge the governor’s directive on replacing some chapter chairmen but caution that applying it in Ikom would upset a tested balance and risk tension ahead of 2027. “Let Ikom remain Ikom,” they appealed, quoting the governor’s earlier pledge not to impose candidates and asking that the existing rotation—described as fair, predictable and inclusive—be respected.
