KEY POINTS
- Host communities demand appointment of an Annang indigene as next rector.
- They cite the rotational leadership tradition between Ibibio and Annang groups.
- Furthermore communities accuse current leadership of imbalance and policy violations.
Communities hosting the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, have called on Governor Umo Eno to ensure fairness, justice, and inclusiveness in the appointment of a new rector for the institution.
The appeal also follows rising agitations over the impending end of tenure of the current Rector, Dr. Moses Umobong, whose term expires in December 2025.
At a press conference on Thursday, the youth leader of the host communities, Mr. Ekikere Iko, expressed concern about what he described as an emerging imbalance in the institution’s leadership structure.
Calls for adherence to rotational tradition
Iko noted that since the polytechnic’s establishment in 1991, the position of rector had alternated between the Ibibio and Annang ethnic groups, fostering a sense of inclusivity and peace among stakeholders.
“For the first time, both the current Rector, Dr. Moses Umobong, and the Deputy Rector hail from the same Ibibio extraction. This is a deviation from the long-standing practice of inclusiveness,” Iko said.
He also criticized the removal of the Deputy Rector of Annang origin, describing it as contrary to the institution’s establishment law and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) guidelines.
Ikot Ekpene District further demands fair representation
The youth leader also lamented that the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District had not received equitable representation in the leadership of state-owned tertiary institutions.
“Currently, both the Akwa Ibom State University and the State College of Education are headed by individuals from the Uyo Senatorial District,” he said, adding that Ikot Ekpene deserved fair inclusion.
While pledging the communities’ continued support for Governor Eno’s ARISE Agenda and his potential second-term bid in 2027, Iko further urged the governor to appoint a qualified Annang indigene as the next rector in the spirit of fairness and unity. He also commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio for his leadership and contributions to national development.
On September 3, 2025, there was protest at the polytechnic after residents barricaded the main gate to oppose the appointment of a non-indigene as Community Liaison Officer.
The protesters, numbering over 1,000, also demanded the removal of Rector Umobong, accusing him of unfair staff treatment and reducing the salaries of part-time lecturers from ₦50,000 to ₦30,000, despite national agitation for a new minimum wage.
