The All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to win majority of the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the forthcoming local government elections in Akwa Ibom State, conceding a few seats to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Ita Enang, the APC chairman for Local Government Election Planning and Campaign Committee, stated this during a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo, on Tuesday, ahead of the commencement of local government election campaign, at the
Enang attributed the APC’s confidence to win majority of the seats in the 31 local government areas in the state to the poor and dissatisfactory performance of the PDP chairmen and councillors at the local government areas in the state.
The Senator praised President Bola Tinubu for rescuing local government areas from the control of state governors in Nigeria, allowing them through the local government autonomy to receive their allocations directly from the federal government.
He expressed confidence that the APC would demonstrate strong leadership in local government administration in Akwa Ibom State. However, he criticized the local government areas for failing to fulfill their obligations, such as building roads and markets.
While the APC in the state trusts Governor Umo Eno to oversee a fair and transparent local government election, Enang noted that the party was concerned about the sincerity of AKISIEC Chairman, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, based on his past conduct during previous elections.
Enang assured that the APC would prevent the PDP from absconding with election materials, asserting that the party would participate even if the election field is not leveled.
Also in his remark, Dr. Patrick Umoh, the representative for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, stated that the APC would secure the majority of seats for chairmen and councillors due to AKISIEC’s perceived independence and Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to conducting a transparent local government election in the state.
Commending the APC’s local government election planning committee, the NUJ chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, noted their proactive approach of being the first campaign committee for local government elections to engage with the NUJ in the state.
Etuk promised the media’s active involvement in covering the election process and urged the APC to focus on issue-based campaigns that outline development agendas for local government areas within the state.
