Newscenter Media News 
Two sociopolitical groups in Akwa Ibom State, the Esit Eket Grassroots Network (EGN) and the Eket People Union (EPU) have disagreed over the second term aspirations of the member representing Eket/ Onna/ Esit Eket/ Ibeno Federal constituency, Okpolupm Etteh.
The Eket Peoples Union had, on March 27, 2026, withdrawn its support for the lawmaker’s second term bid, citing breach of trust as reason for the action.
But, the Esit Eket Grass Root Network has distanced itself from EPU’s position, describing a recent publication by EPU titled ‘Why Ekid Will Not Support Hon. Okpolupm Etteh and Any Other Ibeno Candidate’ as misleading, divisive and unrepresentative of the collective will of the Ekid people.
In a communiqué issued to newsmen in Uyo on Sunday after a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, the EGN maintained that EPU does not and cannot speak for the entire Ekid nation, emphasizing that its views are limited to its members and should not be misconstrued as a unified position.
The communique was endorsed by Chief Victor Dan Ikot, Chief Udo Thompson, Dr. Ekanem Friday John, Emmanuel Nsoh, Mrs Mercy Joseph Sam, Aniefiok Cobb, Samuel Ehoho Udo, Ubong Bassey, Samuel Frank, Victor Asuquo Ayah, Mrs Ekaette Uduak and a host of others
Faulting EPU’s position, EGN declared, “The attempt to generalize its stance as the collective will of the people is misleading and unacceptable.”
The group further stressed that leadership should be determined by competence, performance and service delivery, not ethnic or sectional sentiments.
“Citizens have the constitutional right to freely choose their preferred candidates without coercion or propaganda,” the communique added.
EGN commended Okpolupm Etteh’s track record in the Eket Federal Constituency, citing his strides in youth empowerment, human capital development and consistent engagement with constituents.
In a decisive move, the group passed a motion endorsing the second term bids of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Eno, and Etteh, describing the trio as critical to sustaining ongoing development efforts at the federal, state, and constituency levels.
Akwa Ibom communities clash over Rep Etteh’s second term bid