…as Ward 5, Youth Council declare support
“We’re not selling our votes again for rice, rappers” – Youth Leader
By Ime Silas
Ahead of 2027 campaigns flag off, political consultations for the House of Representatives seat for Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency gathered fresh momentum on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as frontline candidate, Mr. Ikakke Bassey, received major endorsements separately from the leadership and members of the Labour Party in Ibesikpo Ward 5, and the Village Youth Council, Afaha Udoeyop in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
The Labour Party candidate, Mr Ikakke Bassey, who hails from Afaha Udoeyop in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, paid consultation visits to the village Youth Council led by its Chairman, Mr. Mbuotidem. The meeting, held in Afaha Udoeyop, drew a large turnout of youths and community stakeholders who converged to hear Ikakke’s plans for the constituency.
In a unanimous resolution expressed at the end of the engagement, the Youth Council pledged to mobilize support and deliver Bassey at the polling units. The Youth council cited what it described as years of neglect of their communities and non-performance by the current occupant of the seat, Rt. Honourable Mark Esset of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“We have watched, we have waited, and we have seen nothing,” Chairman, Mr. Mbuotidem said while addressing the gathering.
“In our communities today, there is no electricity, there is no empowerment, and there is no legislation that has touched the lives of our people. The time has come for us to choose someone who understands our pain and is ready to work.”
He added that the youths of Afaha Udoeyop were no longer interested in politics of promises, but in representation that translates to tangible projects, jobs, and opportunities for young people who make up the majority of the voting population.
Following the consultation with the Youth Council, Bassey also met with the Labour Party, LP, in Ibesikpo Ward 5 led by Mr. Edidiong Hanson. Party executives and ward leaders used the occasion to assess the candidate’s antecedents and his vision for the federal constituency.
Those who spoke at the meeting described Bassey as a grassroots politician whose humanitarian strides in Ibesikpo Asutan and neighboring communities have earned him credibility long before the 2027 race began. They noted his consistent engagement with market women, students, artisans, and persons with disabilities through empowerment programs, educational support, and medical outreach.
“Capacity is not something you claim, it is something you demonstrate,” one of the Ward leaders, Aniekan Jacob said.
According to him: “Ikakke has shown it. He has been with the people in good times and in hard times. What we need in Abuja is a voice that will speak for us and bring development back home, ward-by-ward.”
Outlining his cardinal plans, Bassey told both the youth council and LP Ward leaders that his representation would be anchored on three pillars: skills acquisition, job creation, and facilitation of federal projects and interventions to every ward in Uyo Federal Constituency.
“Our people are tired of stagnation,” Bassey roared.
“For too long, representation has been about Abuja and overseas travels but not about Afaha Udoeyop, about Nung Udoe, or about Ibesikpo Asutan. Can they point to any tangible or intangible thing the current Representatives member, Rt. Honourable Mark Esset is doing to better your lives?
My plan is simple: equip our youths with skills that can earn them a living, connect our women and small business owners to markets and funding, and bring federal presence to our roads, health centers, and schools.”
He stressed that the constituency’s challenges — including poor power supply, youth unemployment, and lack of access to federal opportunities — require a representative who is present, accessible, and willing to lobby for results.
“We cannot continue like this,” he added. “You deserve electricity. You deserve empowerment. You deserve laws that protect your businesses and your future. I am ready to salvage our people from years of neglect, poor representation, and economic stagnation.”
The endorsements from Ward 5 and the Youth Council come at a critical time as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather pace across Akwa Ibom State. Uyo Federal Constituency, which comprises Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan LGAs, is considered a key battleground, with candidates from different parties already testing the waters.
Given years of neglect, and zoning principle which favours Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, political observers in the area note that the support from structured bodies like the Ibesikpo Ward 5 and the Village Youth Council could provide Bassey with a strong grassroots structure, particularly in voter mobilization and turnout on election day. This is just as youth groups are increasingly becoming decisive in elections across the state, given the prevailing poor leadership situation, as well as their numbers and influence at the polling unit level.
Community members and party faithful who attended Sunday’s meeting expressed optimism that Bassey’s entry into the race would change the conversation around representation. Several speakers pointed to his track record of community service as proof that he understands local problems and has the will to address them.
“We are not selling our votes again for rice and wrappers,” said a youth leader from Afaha Udoeyop. “Rather, we will be casting our votes for light, for jobs, for skills. Ikakke has shown us a plan, and we are ready to follow that plan.”
As the 2027 election cycle approaches, Bassey’s team says consultations will continue across the four local government areas that make up Uyo Federal Constituency.
Meanwhile, the declaration of support by the leadership and members of the Labour Party in Ibesikpo Ward 5 and the Afaha Udoeyop Youth Council and stakeholders in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, signal an early boost for Bassey’s ambition, and sets the tone for what is shaping up to be a competitive contest for the Uyo Federal Constituency seat.
