Akwa Ibom Youths Demand Open Primaries Amid Protests

On Friday, Akwa Ibom youths staged a protest in Ikot Abasi against the consensus candidate for the Senate, calling for open primaries ahead of the party primaries. The protest was organized by youth from Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas, who expressed their displeasure over the automatic ticket system for the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.

They insisted that the future of their community should not be decided behind closed doors and emphasized the need for a credible democratic process. Current Senator Ekong Sampson is pursuing a second term, but the youths, led by Ayang Richard, firmly resisted the imposition of an automatic ticket, labeling it as a non-performing leadership.

They called on the APC leadership to uphold direct primaries and allow credible candidates to emerge. The protest highlighted the youths' support for President Bola Tinubu and the need for inclusivity in the electoral process, rejecting any attempts to reinforce the failure of the automatic ticket system.