By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Even though Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is still engrossed in issues relating to his second term election victory, a number of people interested in succeeding him are not being deterred as they prepare themselves for the battle ahead.

Last weekend a prominent member of the Godswill Akpabio administration in Akwa Ibom State inaugurated a secret team of campaign coordinators to advance his case to succeed the governor who is just settling in for his second term.

Akpabio’s victory is being challenged by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 election Senator John Akpanudoedehe.

But for many interested in the top job that is not deterrence. However one deterrence may be the issue of zoning or no zoning that is now grappling the polity in Akwa Ibom.

The state is divided into three senatorial zones, namely Uyo dominated by the Ibibios; Ikot Ekpene dominated by the Anangs and Eket populated by Eket, Oron, Ibibios among others.

Governor Akpabio whose second term expires in 2015 is from the Ikot Ekpene district. It is the zone’s second term of producing a governor having first produced Don Etiebet as governor of the old Cross River State. All the other civilian governors of the state have come from the Uyo Senatorial district. Eket senatorial zone on its part has never produced a governor.

Gov Akpabio

Following the victory of governor Akpabio last April, speculation on the prospects of Eket breaking the ice became a near issue. However, before a consensus on that could even be reached, arguments to the contrary are being advanced.

The arguments for zoning are founded on the principles of equity, fairness and federal character. However, all such arguments are now being subsumed by real politics on the ground.

Though none of the interested aspirants have openly come out to express their intention, insinuations of underground campaigns and intrigues to promote the ambition of some of the leading contenders or cut down the ambition of others are evident.

Among those being mentioned as possible contenders are the incumbent deputy governor, Isiman Ekere and the secretary to the state government, Umana Umana who was also a one time commissioner for Finance. Both are from the Uyo Senatorial district. A prominent PDP stakeholder, Apostle Sam Akpan is also said to be interested in the contest.

Possible names being mentioned from Eket senatorial district as being interested include Larry Essien a vibrant man with ideas but flayed in some quarters for not having political consistency as a virtue, Bassey Etinam a member of the State House of Assembly and former Special Adviser to the governor on project monitoring, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Rep. Eseme Eyiboh and former Rep. Bernard Udoh.

Speculation of a possible bid by Eyiboh was said to have been the main reason why traducers from home were said to have strongly opposed his second term bid in the House of Representatives. As House spokesman during the immediate past legislature, Eyiboh was said to have gearnered some goodwill that his opponents were said to have vowed to curtail. The same reason is speculated to have been the reason for the troubles of Udoh who his opponents successfully stopped from returning to the House of Representatives.

As at now there seems to be no evidence of any interest from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district where the incumbent comes from perhaps because of the political sensitivity of stakeholders from that zone eying a seat held by a son of Ikot Ekpene.

However, such political sensitivities are being alleged to be irrelevant on the premise that the historical pattern does not favour zoning.

Gubernatorial hopefuls from the Eket senatorial zone are being reminded of the fact that past gubernatorial primaries were fought by all senatorial zones.

When Akpabio made his bid in 2007 he fought against more than 50 other contestants from all the senatorial zones including his present deputy, Ekere.

The argument of the anti-zoning proponents is that zoning comes into place only once the slot of governor has been determined. According to such arguments once the office of governor is determined, all other offices and positions would fall into place.

The anti-zoning proponents are also banking on the fallouts from the federal level where the issue of zoning was successfully buried by the national party.

But how far the anti-zoning proponents can go would only depend on the resilience and vigour the people of Eket are able to fight their cause.