President Tinubu’s Second-Term Bid Gets a Boost from Akwa Ibom’s “Abak 5” Bloc

In a dramatic show of unity and political bravado, the Concerned Stakeholders of Abak 5—an influential coalition drawn from the local government areas of Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ukanafun and Oruk Anam in Akwa Ibom North-West—has formally endorsed the re-election ambitions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Pastor Umo Eno.

The declaration, made at a high-profile breakfast meeting in Uyo on 4 June 2025, lays bare a calculated power play designed to cement continuity at federal, senatorial and state levels in advance of the 2027 general elections.

Critics argue that this “Abak 5” bloc represents the latest attempt by All Progressives Congress (APC) heavyweights to engineer a rubber-stamp political consensus.

Nonetheless, the assemblage of current and former office-holders—among them former Ukanafun LGA Chairman Rt. Hon. Uko Idiong, former Oruk Anam Vice-Chairman Hon. Okokon Etiebet and ex-Councillor Hon. Nsikak Idem—believes the Tinubu administration’s policies on economic revitalisation and security have delivered tangible results in Akwa Ibom State.

According to Idiong, “With our collective votes, we will re-elect these leaders who have demonstrated a strong capacity to lead,” a startling admission that the grassroots tier is being actively mobilised to secure victories for all three tiers of leadership.

Governor Umo Eno, who secured office in May 2023 with approximately 446,238 votes, has pursued an ambitious development agenda focused on infrastructural renewal, agricultural modernisation and youth empowerment.

His critics, however, caution that his developmental strides rely heavily on patronage networks that reinforce the dominance of entrenched elites—echoing concerns about Godswill Akpabio’s Senate presidency, which has often prioritised party politics over legislative oversight.

Indeed, Akpabio’s own political trajectory—from two-term governor of Akwa Ibom to Senate President in 2023—has been characterised by seismic shifts and pragmatic alliances.

His influence over the five LGAs in the North-West Senatorial District, which collectively account for an estimated 300,000-plus voters, remains formidable.

By aligning with Tinubu and Eno, Akpabio signals a seamless APC triad from Aso Rock to Uyo.

Despite calls from opposition parties advocating genuine “political harmony” across party lines, the Abak 5 endorsement underscores a one-sided rallying cry for continuity under APC’s banner.

While supporters trumpet the “stability” this unity promises, sceptics warn of an ossified political arrangement that may marginalise alternative voices and weaken democratic competition.

As 2027 approaches, the Abak 5 bloc’s manoeuvres are likely to intensify, mobilising grassroots structures to deliver votes en masse—potentially dictating the fate of governance in Akwa Ibom State and beyond.