*Ikono / Ini Federal Constituency 2019: *Electorates appeal to Gov Udom Emmanuel for a thorough screening exercise*

*Insist that it is Ikono South Zone to produce next HOR*

It is obvious that elections are around the corner and aspirants have already declared their interest on the various offices available.

This prompted a call for effective representation by a group of enlightened men and women in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency under the umbrella *‘Concerned Citizens of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency’*. The call which was captioned in a two page letter *“Request for An Aptitude test on the PDP aspirants for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency”* was read in a press briefing to Journalist in the group’s secretariat in Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Ikono Local Government Area by their President *Comrade Nsisong Ubong Ntuk* in the company of other executive members and stakeholders in the region.

Our reporters gathered that the people of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency had at an earlier time organized a solemn assembly where they prayed to God for a more effective representation at the Green chambers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019.

The Federal House of Representative in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency is zoned to *Ikono south* in Ikono Local Government Area for another 4years. In 1999, the Ikono people zoned it to Ediene Itak zone with *Rt. Hon. Iquo Inyang* representing and she held the office for two (2) straight terms of Eight (8) years (1999-2007). And thereafter, it rotated to Ini Local government where *Prof. Ini Udoaka* held the office for two (2) straight terms of eight (8) years (2007-2015).

It had rotated back to Ikono in 2015 and it was zoned to Ikono South Zone and by the zoning arrangement Ikono South Zone will hold it for 2 terms of Eight (8) years (2015-2023).

After that it will revert to Ini Local Government Area for Eight Years and back to Ikono which will be automatically zoned to Ikono Middle for Eight (8) years! This zoning formula has created peace and peaceful coexistence not only in Ikono but between Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas, and by extension Akwa Ibom State.

Three major aspirants have so far declared their interest for the position. They Include: *Hon Iboro Ekanem (ward 5-Ikono south)*-The sitting House of Representative Member, *Hon Victor Udofia(ward 3-Ikono middle)*- A two term and sitting House of Assembly Member and *Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo（ward 8-Ikono South)* -The Regional Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Manager of INTELS (West Africa) Limited who emerged as a product of the solemn assembly earlier mentioned.

In the light of the above, the Concerned Citizens in their appeal to the State Governor requested that only Ikono South aspirants be allowed to contest in the interest of peace in the area and that these aspirants be subjected to three test to further enlighten the people on their candidacy:

1.      An aptitude test to determine their Intellectual Quotients (I.Q)

2.      An opinion pool from the media to determine the voice of the masses.

3.      An open manifesto and debate.

While in the press session with the President of the group – *Prince Nsisong Ubong* Ntuk, he pointed out that education and exposure is key to effective representation and appealed that the Governor and the leadership of the PDP be made to assess the credentials of these aspirants before making their choice.

 In his words *“I pray that our dear Governor and the leadership of our party be made to access the credentials of these aspirants. Our Governor prides in Education, this can be seen in his free and compulsory education even at a time that the economy is really biting like this. Sending half-baked graduates to the Green Chambers will result into timidity when confronted with more enlightened minds in Abuja. An educationally advantage state like ours cannot be heard to have filed an SSCE holder to the green chambers of the federal republic of Nigeria. It will bring mockery and disrepute to our educational system. More so, to encourage our teaming youths who have lost hope in education is to support more enlightened and exposed candidates across the state. I know the Excellency will be happy with some credentials of some aspirants in Ikono south-the right zone to complete the remaining 4years term. That is why we have decided to make it public because they are intending public office holders”*

Below is the letter of appeal to the Governor written by the Concerned Citizens of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency.