Michael Afangideh, the political leader of Essien Udim Local Government Area and considered a mentor to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has rejected the declaration by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the recent chairmanship election in the area.
Afangideh expressed his frustration over the election results, stating, “I am not happy. Why should I be happy? All my people are crying.” His comments reflect growing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election in Akpabio’s hometown.
Afangideh, a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the party leadership in Akwa Ibom of making a “trade by barter” deal, allowing the APC to claim victory in Essien Udim for potential political leverage in the 2027 elections. He further revealed that many youths in the area protested the election results by blocking a major highway.
The election results have been highly controversial. Initially, AKISIEC declared Enobong Friday, the PDP candidate, as the winner in Essien Udim, with 55,612 votes, compared to just 686 votes for Ntiedo Usoro of the APC. A video of Inyang Atting, the returning officer for the election, announcing the PDP’s victory circulated widely. Atting, a professor at the University of Uyo, had declared Friday the winner, stating he had not only won the majority of votes but also secured over 25 percent of votes in all 13 wards of Essien Udim.
However, the following day, AKISIEC reversed its decision and announced Usoro, the APC candidate, as the winner, sparking widespread criticism and allegations of election manipulation. Afangideh firmly maintained that the PDP won the election by a large margin, questioning the legitimacy of the APC’s victory.
“PDP won in all the wards,” Afangideh said. “After some time, another announcement came from somewhere in APC, saying the leader of the APC, Akpabio, wanted Essien Udim, so they gave it to him.”
The 106-year-old Afangideh, who is known for having played a pivotal role in Akpabio’s political rise, expressed disappointment with the Senate president’s actions. He recounted how he helped Akpabio become a commissioner, governor, and later senator. Afangideh also revealed that their relationship soured after he refused to follow Akpabio when the latter switched from the PDP to the APC.
“He should get it by votes, not by power,” Afangideh remarked, referring to the APC’s controversial victory. He plans to meet with Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno to discuss the situation, along with 20 people from Essien Udim, and intends to send a message to Akpabio after the meeting.
The incident has left many in Akwa Ibom questioning the credibility of the election process, as the PDP secured victories in 30 out of 31 local government areas, except for Akpabio’s stronghold in Essien Udim.