2027: Abang, Bisong, Obun, Jake, Ochinke, Besong In Ding-Dong Battle for Ikom/Boki Reps Seat
By Tony OBI
A few months away from party primaries ahead of 2027 general election, political activities have continued to gather steam. And characteristics of the political class, they have been nocturnal meetings, alignment and re-alignment of interests in the ruling APC and opposition parties.
With the ongoing endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the mass defection of almost all incumbent Governors, especially in the south with their supporters, from people Democratic Party (PDP), including some serving senators and federal house members to APC, there are indications that the contest for NASS tickets is going to be a ding-dong affairs.
While incumbent elected office holders are working tirelessly to still sustain their seats, others within the same party and camp are equally eyeing those seats.
Therefore, it is not going to be tea party for the occupant Boki/Ikom federal seat, Hon victor Abang Bisong, as his kinsmen are set to dig out our with him once again at the poll. The in would-be aspirants are dogged, experienced and have capacity to run the race till the end as witnessed in the build up to 2023 election.
Here comes the would-be contestants for Boki/ikom federal constituency in 2027:
HILARY EKPANG BISONG, Ph.D
He is the current member of the Cross River State House of Assembly representing Boki 11 and is the chief whip. He has been a serving member in the house since 2015 and currently serving his third term. Bisong understands the legislative rules and procedure with deep knowledge which always guide him effectively during house proceedings. He has sponsored a myriads of bills and motions to his credit, and has occupied many committees as chairman.
Before joining the state House, Rt. Hon, was (PA) personal Assistant to former Governor Liyel Imoke during PDP led-administration, on Students Affairs. Bisong antecedents show that he has touched so many lives under his constituency and beyond. He is young, cool- headed and calculative lawmaker who was crowned chief (Otu aninong 1 of Ekpashi) by his immediate constituents (Ekpashi ward) based on his immeasurable community services and human development ,is no doubt love by his people, and by that singular demonstration.
He is dogged and maintain balance and objectivity in decision making, and proactive in managing Crises and Conflicts when the need arises. In 2023, he made an attempt to vie for House of Representative primary, but party leadership told him to return to the Assembly, thus his third term. So, ahead of party primaries, Bisong is seriously working underground to take over the position of Boki/Ikom Reps seat comes 2027 from one of his political rival who is currently representing Boki/Ikom federal constituency.
Agreed, Bisong is popular and well-connected within and outside the state as well as in APC and across parties. But the zoning arrangement in Boki may not favour him in addition to the fact that he has been in the House for about twelve years by 2027. Besides, some top shots in Boki are eying the governorship seat in 2031, and therefore will be up in arms against Bisong Reps ambition. The reason being that they feel Bisong going to the Reps will mar their future political chances and calculations.
So, Bisong has a herculean task ahead. It is going to be between the emerging leadership in APC led by Amb. Soni Abang, the Director Finance in new South South Development Commission (SSDC) and a few of them trying to establish their foot hole. But Bisong is not going to be push over as he is determined to dare where Angels fail to thread. He has the experience and financial wherewithal to challenge other aspirants when the chips are down.
VICTOR ABANG (AKA MATURE)
He is the member representing Boki/Ikom Federal constituency in the 10th House of Representative. A onetime personal Assistant to the longest served Senate President, David Mark during the people Democratic Party (PDP) era.
Before his emergence to contest the 2023 general Elections, Hon. Victor Abang (Mature) was known for his philanthropic activities and a gentleman, though, vied for the position of chairmanship of Boki Local Government Council in 2015, but lost out due to the zoning arrangement as projected by the highest Boki decision making body (Ochibe Bokyi World Wide). He bounced back in 2023 and secured the party ticket under a keenly contested primary with Rt Hon. Hilary Ekpang Bisong.
Under his human capacity development, Abang has empowered his Boki/Ikom constituents with over 22 motorcycles, facilitated the erection of MTN mini- masks to connect over 30 communities in both Boki and Ikom respectively to boost and rectify the long standing network challenges in those areas among others.
As a first timer in the lower Chamber of the National Assembly, Abang (Mature) has so far attracted dividends of democracy as promised during his campaign to the people of Boki/Ikom constituency. For Abang, he stands justified for his numerous achievements so far recorded, despite the court cases he went through with a lot of setbacks.
However, political observers have it that he is too slow, weak and lacks the capacity to lead again come 2027. He looks all of from the grassroots, which he once endears himself to a few years back. He is not connecting back as before and this has caused him initial support base. In other words, he does not speak the language of the people hear, which is "reaching out with some financial empowerment to critical stakeholders." He has to try and "reconnect" with the new generation of politics and recreate the "magic wand" that made him the candidate to beat a few years back else the "seat" seems to be gradually slipping off him. Above all, he has the financial war chest to prosecute his campaigns to the end.
ATTAH OCHINKE ESQ.
Attah Ochinke, is the former Attorney general of Cross River State, and principal partner at Attah Ochinke and Co. He was the authentic people Democratic party (PDP) Ffag bearer in the 2023 general elections for Boki/Ikom federal constituency after an Appeal Court verdict in his favour that dismissed his rival, Abang Pius who was earlier pronounced winner of the party (PDP) primaries by the federal High court in Calabar.
He is a silent achiever, humble, intelligent and very principled. He is the current Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Calabar Branch, and as a legal luminary, has held several positions in both public and private sectors. Ochinke is a chartered arbitrator and a member of the chartered institute of Arbitration (UK). He has once served as Special Adviser and later Commissioner for trade and Investments under Donald Duke from 2010- 2015 and later Commissioner for Justice of Cross River State during Senator Liyel Imoke's administration. He has once taught in university of Calabar as a graduate Assistant.
Ochinke was the candidate of PDP in the 2023 elections, for the Boki/Ikom federal constituency, he contested strongly against Hon. Victor Abang of the APC and was defeated, though not satisfied with the elections outcome, he challenged Hon. Victor Abang's victory in court which took months of litigations but was later settled out of court as a brother of same LGA. Months later, the legal expert moved to APC with his mammoth supporters including the PDP chapter chairman of Boki Mr. Fabian Akwaji. Aside his key achievements, one of the most outstanding achievement was his appointment as member of Cameroon- Nigerian Joint Boundary Commission, an organ of the United Nations working to resolve boundary issues between Nigeria and Cameron arising from the ICJ judgment on Bakassi.
Ochinke has earned national and international respect and visibility within and outside his legal profession. More so, his passion for rural and human capacity development know no boundaries, hence his support for education, job creation and young talents and Career development.
THE BEAGLE NEWS has it on good authority Ochinke is already oiling his political machinery to ran another race for Boki/Ikom federal House of Representative comes 2027. He enjoys some modicum of respect and fellowship from some section of Boki elites, who see him a bridge builder. Despite his established pedigrees, will he clinch the APC ticket this time around having joined the party officially in May 2025, and whereas Hon. Victor Abang, whom he challenged in the 2023 elections from a different party platform (PDP), is currently occupying that seat?
But the snag is that Ochinke does not have financial muscle to pull through the rough waters of Nigerian politics where cash is a major determinant factor. He is also seen in political circle as a man who is "not free with cash." But his doggedness and tenacity to fight to the end is an added advantage. So, those eyeing the Reps seat with him have to gird their loins because he fights to the end.
JAKE OTU ENYIA Ph.D.
Jake Otu Enyia is a prominent Nigeria lawyer, politicians and an academic. Before venturing into murky waters of politics, has served for over twelve years in the Cross River State Local Government service, and is considered a seasoned administrator, community Leader and philanthropist. Enyia was council chairman of Boki local government before joining the State House of Assembly to represent Boki 11 Constituency for two consecutive tenure under PDP. However, his third term into the state House was thwarted by Hilary Bisong in 2015, who is currently serving his third term and as the chief whip of the House. Enyia was also Commissioner for Aviation during Senator Ben Ayade administration and currently serving as the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Governor Bassey Otu on Inter- governmental Affairs.
As an Associate Professor, Chief Jake is also a lecturer in the department of commercial and industrial law at the University of Calabar where he started his teaching career in 2013 on part-time. Under Ayade’s government, Jake once lobbied to become the Secretary to state government (SSG) among other contenders, but later lost out to Barr. Tina Banku Agbor. Beyond the aforementioned, Enyia have received several awards and certificates in legislative studies. Enyia was once the darling of Boki, but lost out when he tried to fight some entrenched interest in Boki. Like every other aspirants, he needs to get on board with Boki "king makers"
HON. CLETUS OBUN
Cletus Mbia Obun is a former member of Cross River State House of Assembly; a political figure and chieftain of the All Progressive congress (APC), public affairs analyst and a media consultant. He is known in political circle as an "infant terrible" who takes fight to the end.
As a former member of Cross River State House of Assembly during the fourth republic, he was the chairman of the House committee, rural development and women Affairs. He was suspended as a state House of Assembly member representing Boki 1 Constituency by Donald Duke-led government in 1999 under the Fourth Republic due to intra-party party upheavals. Obun served as Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade in 2021 on strategic communication.
As a public affairs analyst, he is a frequent quest on Nigeria news channels such as TVC News, NTA, and Channels TV where he gives insight and captivating analysis on national issues, Security, and socio- political developments. He is dogged, resilient, Frank to a fault and a workaholic. Known for his eloquent oratory, he is a mobilizer, and a proactive fighter for equity and fair play.
However, he remain a prominent voice in Cross River State and Nigeria as a known advocate for social justice, peace and development. He is a community leader and a nation builder. He remains one of oldest legacy APC member that has suffered undue marginalisation is all strata of appointment, which today earned him an appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Chairman Governing Council at the Federal College of Education, Iditep, Akwa Ibom State.
Sources have it that, during President Bola Tinubu Ministerial appointment, a group known as Coalition of Concerned APC members in Cross River State projected his name as minister based on his pedigrees and sterling qualities and as a loyal APC stalwart, but lost out to high power play and intrigues.
He has been a veteran of electoral contest and is again silently consulting to vie for Boki/Ikom federal constituency comes 2027. He is a "lone ranger" and a man that can weather any political storm. He has some cult followers in Boki and Ikom. He is a movement. He is seen by his followers as die-hard progressives and at home with the proletariat. He has no cash-backing to his ambition in a clime where money is a major determinant factor. To the political class, Obun cannot be trusted with power to avoid mass movement against them. He does not flow with the status quo.
Therefore, if party loyalty, steadfastness and intelligence are the criteria for wining an election, Obun has no rivals. But in a society where sycophancy and god-fatherism are the game, then Obun has no chance to taste the coveted Reps seat. He needs intervention from the above to get the Rep ticket in 2027.
HON. ABANG PIUS BESONG (Amani Jojo)
Hon. Abang Pius Besong is a young philanthropist and a business mogul who served as a Director General, Timber Control, Cross River Central, during Governor Ben Ayade dministration. As a grassroots politician, he has empowered so many youths under his constituency with scholarship scheme, UTME sponsorship and also taking care of the less privilege. Abang is a household name due to his kind heart and God-fearing personality, always showing wisdom during conflicts and crises. The youth see him as new generation of leader that can represent their interest effectively if given the opportunity.
Though, has not held any elective political position, as a first timer in the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP), he contested primary for Boki/Ikom federal constituency with Barr. Attah Ochinke during the 2023 general elections and won Barr. Ochinke to clinch the party ticket. Ochinke sought redress at the Appeal Court and later re-claimed back the ticket via the court verdict in his favour.
Shortly after the court case, Abang Pius Besong, younger brother to Hon. Sunny Abang current Director of finance south-south development authority, left the PDP for the All Progressive Congress (APC) which immediately earned him the appointment as Secretary, Cross River State Special Task Force on Anti- Deforestation.
Critics say Besong lacks the experience to effectively man the Boki/Ikom federal constituency, therefore he should wait and learn the process and business of politicking gradually. Abang Pius Besong is still not ready to give up on his 2027 political ambition for the Boki/Ikom federal seat as he is working round the clock to throw his hat into to the ring once more comes 2027. He has cash backing to foot his electioneering bills once the game kicks start in full. Abang’s family is loaded with political appointments and therefore, the Boki nation may not want to entrust him with another juicy
CONCLUSION
The six aspirants above are strong contenders for the seat and have wide range of network within and outside the community that can change the tide. But the age-long rotation and the traditional institution headed by Ochibe Bokyi World Wide).
External forces I closing the party, the Governor and new "king makers" in Boki and Ikom politics will definitely have a hand in who emerges in 2027.
