Some youths from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State staged a protest on Friday at the Ikot Abasi Council Headquarters, rejecting plans by the All Progressives Congress to grant an automatic Senate ticket to incumbent senator Ekong Sampson. The protesters, drawn from Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas, demanded open primaries and a transparent selection process for the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District race. They carried placards with messages such as "No automatic ticket for a senator that is not performing" and "Open primaries will bring more support for APC." Youth leader Ayang Richard stated the protest reflected a broader call for fairness, stressing that leadership must emerge through competitive and transparent processes. He claimed the constituency has capable candidates and that imposing Sampson would damage the party's credibility. Another speaker, Friday Jack, accused Sampson of neglecting youth interests and urged unity among youths and women to resist what he called the entrenchment of failure. The protesters affirmed support for President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno, while aligning with the decision to open the Eket Senatorial District race to all aspirants.
Ekong Sampson's bid for a second term is running into resistance not from rival politicians but from the very demographic his re-election should depend on—young voters in Ikot Abasi. The protest led by Ayang Richard and Friday Jack exposes a growing disconnect between a sitting senator and the constituents he is meant to represent, particularly as claims of neglect and underperformance take centre stage. This is not merely about party primaries; it is a challenge to the legitimacy of political continuity without accountability.
The demand for open primaries gains weight when viewed against the backdrop of micro-zoning and internal party dynamics in Akwa Ibom. While stakeholders in Eket Senatorial District have opened their race to competition, the push to shield Sampson from contestation appears inconsistent with that precedent. The youths' reference to credible local candidates suggests a belief that talent exists within the constituency, making the push for an automatic ticket seem less about competence and more about political convenience. Their placards, especially the one questioning non-performing senators, point to a deeper frustration with unfulfilled promises.
Ordinary youths in Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, and Ikot Abasi stand to lose the most if the nomination process bypasses democratic norms. If party leadership imposes a candidate despite visible dissent, it risks deepening apathy and eroding trust in the political process, particularly among first-time voters and grassroots supporters. Their mobilisation signals a desire for inclusion, not just in rhetoric but in structure.
This episode fits a wider pattern across Nigeria's ruling party, where consensus candidates are increasingly met with resistance from party members demanding direct primaries. In Akwa Ibom, where political loyalty is often enforced from the top, this protest may mark a shift—youths are no longer passive beneficiaries but active claimants of political space.
