The Central Political El-Classico 2027: A Battle Of Former Speakers

By Umezulike Desmond-Cruz

Barring any last minute changes, Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa and Senator Eteng Jones will be having a rematch come 2027 for the soul of Central Senatorial District, under the NDC and APC Political Parties respectively. Just like football, some matches are not merely games; they are historic encounters that command attention, stir emotions, and divide loyalties. They are fixtures where reputation, experience, strategy, and legacy collide. The world of football has given us the legendary El-Classico, a fierce rivalry between Real Madrid football club and FC Barcelona, as a classic example. The El-Classico is a contest where every pass carries meaning, every tackle tells a story, and every goal becomes a chapter in history.

In 2027, Central Senatorial District of Cross River State may witness its own political El-Classico, not between football clubs, but between two political heavyweights whose journeys have remarkably followed similar paths: two men who have both occupied the prestigious seat of Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and now stand on opposite sides of a political pitch. On one side of this political stadium is Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa, a veteran politician, former Speaker, and a man who has spent 12 years in the green chambers of the National Assembly. His political jersey carries the inscription of experience, legislative exposure, and years of navigating the complex terrain of national politics.

On the other side is Senator Eteng Jones, the current occupant of the Central Senatorial seat and also a former Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly. Like a captain defending his trophy, Senator Jones approaches the contest as an incumbent determined to retain his place on the political throne. This is not an ordinary election. It is a clash of former captains, in this context, former Speakers.

But just like the El-Classico, the contest will not only be decided by individual brilliance but by tactics, team strength, public support, and the ability to read the game. The political midfield will be crowded with alliances, endorsements, grassroots mobilisation, and narratives about representation and performance. For Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa, he enters the field as the experienced striker who understands the terrain. After 12 years in the House of Representatives, he comes with the confidence of a player who has played on the biggest stage and believes it is time to move from the lower pitch to the senate arena. Senator Eteng Jones, however, is not a newcomer defending an empty goalpost. He is the man currently wearing the senator’s armband, a player who understands the advantage of incumbency and the power that comes with occupying the field. His challenge will be convincing voters that his first term deserves an extension.

The beauty of football is that history and reputation can inspire confidence, but the final whistle is determined on match day. In this political El-Classico, supporters of both sides will argue about records, loyalty, capacity, and who has the better vision for Central Senatorial District. One camp will highlight experience and years of legislative engagement; the other will point to continuity, current representation, and the achievements of an incumbent. The referee in this contest will ultimately be the people of Central Senatorial District–the voters who will decide whose political formation has the better strategy and whose campaign will successfully convert promises into victory.

Like every great El-Classico, there will be drama, suspense, tactical battles, and moments that define careers. There will be political “goals”, defensive moves, surprise substitutions– in this case, Senator Eteng Jones even as Captain maybe substituted for an Oden Ewa, who is largely a greenhorn– and perhaps unexpected alliances before the final whistle is blown.

But beyond the rivalry, this contest represents something bigger: the maturity of democracy and the strength of political competition. When two experienced players meet on the same pitch, the quality of the game can only rise. Come 2027, Central Senatorial District may not just be witnessing an election; it may be witnessing a political football classic–a battle of former Speakers, a contest of experience, ambition, and legacy. The stadium is already preparing. The fans are waiting. The Political El-Classico is coming!!