…vow to vote him out next year
By Ndanti Akpan, Ekanem Iniko and Rose Ekan
Akwa Ibom State — A wave of anger is sweeping through Uyo Federal Constituency as individuals and grassroots groups accused Rep. Mark Esset of staging a last-minute “empowerment” drive after nearly four years of inactivity, vowing to retire him at the polls on January 16, 2027.
At a town hall meeting in Etoi and a series of street engagements across Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan Local Government Areas over the week, constituents said the sudden distribution of used minibuses, transformers and cash grants was an insult to their intelligence and a classic election-year gimmick.
Rt. Hon Mark Esset who was elected in 2023 to represent Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/ Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency, has been occupying political offices since 2013. He was appointed as Transition Chairman for Nsit Atai Local Government Council and later emerged as elected Chairman of the council.
After serving as Council Chairman, he was elected to represent Nsit Atai State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2015 and got reelected in 2019.
His years in politics have been described by his people as a ‘waste’, as he has nothing to show as tangible dividends of his political voyage compared to his counterparts from other constituencies.
“Now, a representative who was comatose for almost 4 years is waking up late,” a statement from DÉMMÉ, the political movement that has gained traction across the constituency in the last 18 months.
“They are listening, tracking our campaign trajectory and following suit. This is the beauty of democracy.”
The group, which describes itself as an awakening rather than just a political platform, argued that true representation cannot be switched on three months to an election.
“Collect now, retire them in 2027”
In a statement signed by Démmé Media Directorate and circulated across media platforms, groups and community radio on Thursday, the movement told voters to take whatever is being offered but not to trade their conscience.
“In life, there has to be the leader who knows the way, have gone the way, and is showing the way. I’m happy to do that,” frontline 2027 candidate of the Labour Party for the Uyo Federal Constituency seat, Mr Ikakke Bassey, was quoted in the statement issued by Démmé Political Movement.
“My fulfillment is how my activeness as an opposition figure in the State is stirring the waters in the ruling camp and delivering immediate benefits to the masses, because these guys have to bring the monies they have so far stolen from THE PEOPLE.”
The statement continued with a direct charge to voters: “Collect the money, collect the cars, collect the transformer, collect whatever they can bring now. It’s an old debt they owed you. But on the 16th of January 2027, during election, retire them.”
That line has since gone viral in Uyo, with youths chanting “DÉMMÉ!” at market squares and motor parks.
Constituents who spoke to this reporter in Itam Market and Anua said they were tired of representatives who disappear to Abuja after swearing-in and only resurface with branded SUVs and minibuses when campaigns approach.
“What we need aren’t manipulative politicians who show up after every four years during electioneering period and pretend to be good people,” said Eno Bassey, a trader in Uyo Village Road.
“What we need is a consistent leadership that stems from love and deep understanding of the pain points and ambitions of the people.”
Another resident, Aniekan Udo from Ibesikpo, pointed to abandoned constituency projects and poor federal presence in schools and health centers as evidence of the “comatose” years. “For three years we did not see him. Now transformers are falling from the sky. We will collect it. It belongs to us. But our PVC will speak in 2027,” he said.
The DÉMMÉ factor
DÉMMÉ, which means “Wake Up” in Ibibio, has positioned itself as a citizen-driven push for political renaissance in Uyo Federal Constituency. Its organizers say the movement is not tied to one party but to a standard of accountability, visibility and grassroots engagement.
Over the past year, DÉMMÉ coordinators have held ward meetings, tracked budgetary allocations, and published scorecards on federal interventions. They credit that pressure for the sudden flurry of activities by the incumbent’s office.
“This is the beauty of democracy,” the movement stated. “When the people wake up, even a sleeping office must wake up. But he can’t fool us again for another turn of deceit”
Political pundits in Uyo hold that the 2027 House of Representatives race will be one of the most watched in Akwa Ibom, with hitherto voter apathy giving way to organized grassroots mobilization.
What constituents are demanding
Beyond rejecting last-minute empowerment, residents listed three priorities they want from the next representative: consistent constituency office operations, quarterly town halls, and direct intervention in youth employment, education and rural electrification.
“We are not asking for miracles,” said a youth leader in Uruan. “We are asking for presence. If you cannot be here, step aside for someone who will.”
As noted in the DÉMMÉ’s rallying call: “Uyo Federal Constituency, DÉMMÉ! Join the movement for the political renaissance of Uyo Federal Constituency. We are going somewhere…”
In a swift reaction signed and circulated by the President of Atai-Uyo Progressive Youths Movement, APYM, the group termed Mark Esset’s empowerment as “Late hour political gesture’, maintaining that it won’t take him anywhere near National Assembly again.
“Mark Esset can not stay in the national assembly for nearly four years, abandoning the people of Uyo Federal Constituency, only to wake up few months to election for his late hour political gesture. Where was he all this while? How has long has Afaha Udoeyop been without electricity?
The youths are wiser now. Our people are enlightened now. Together, we shall vote out Mark Esset in 2027”, parts of the statement signed by APYM’s President, Engr Sampson Okono noted.
As the 2027 campaigns continue to gather momentum, the message from the streets of Uyo is clear. Voters say they will take the ‘late hour’ inducements being distributed now, but they are keeping their votes for a candidate they believe has shown up before the election season.
Whether Rep. Mark Esset can change that perception in the next few months will determine if his “afterthought empowerment” becomes a comeback story, or the final chapter of a tenure constituents say was marked by silence and abysmal failure.
Our correspondents gathered that across Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan LGAs, one chant is growing louder: collect now, decide in 2027.
