During colonial rule, Opobo Division included at various times, the Andoni, southern Anaang, south-west Ibibio (Kwa), the Ogoni, and Opobo groups (Ann. Rep.
1937, 1939), on a territory of about 903 square miles, i. е., 1440 square kilometres (Ann. Rep. 1942). The Ibibio (Kwa) group formed only about 27.5 % of the population in the Division in 1939 (Ann. Rep. 1939). Successive administrative reorganisations streamlined the population groupings into separate territorial units, i. е., Ogoni, Andoni, Anaang, etc. The Ibibio groups currently form the major part of the present local government area population supplemented by the Eastern Obolo.
The present people of Ikot Abasi are of two major ethnic groups, namely: Ibibio and Andoni. The Ibibio form over 90 % of the population and occupy the upland part of the area; while the Andoni, who are mainly fishermen settled along the coastal areas. Apart from a number of litigations on the ownership of the land along the coastal zones, and a few minor skirmishes (especially during the Nigerian Civil War period), the two groups of people have, over the years, lived peacefully with mutual benefits to each other. The Andoni provide the fish and other sea foods, while the Ibibio supply them with food crops.
The people are grouped into six clans with the Ibibio having five of the clans, namely: Ukpum Ete, Ukpum Okon, Ikpa Ibekwe, Ikpa Nnung Assang and Ikpa Edemeya. The Andoni make up the Eastern Obolo clan. There is also a large settlement of Opobo (Umani) people in a section of Ikot Abasi urban. These Igbo-speaking people had acquired the land and settled there during the time and reign of Jaja of Opobo. They came from Opobo Town (Island), which is now in the Rivers State.