On Monday, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State officially swore in 31 newly elected local government chairmen following their success in the October 5 elections. The inauguration took place at the Government House in Uyo. Of the 31 chairmen, 30 were elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while one, representing Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA), was from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The chairmen had been issued Certificates of Return by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) the previous day, certifying their victory in the local government elections. During the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Eno highlighted the importance of collaboration and urged the new chairmen to work together with his administration to ensure effective governance and delivery of services to the people.
Governor Eno particularly addressed Ntiedo Usoro, the APC chairman of Essien Udim LGA, reminding him that his role is to serve the entire community and not just his party. He stated, “To the Chairman of Essien Udim LGA, your election and subsequent swearing-in today means our process was fair. Nobody can claim that it was not free. It was fair and it was credible and that’s why you are here.”
The governor further emphasized the need for unity, stating that governance transcends political affiliations. He advised all the chairmen to put aside party lines and focus on serving their constituents. “There’s no APC or PDP local government in governance,” he remarked, stressing the importance of working together for the common good of the state.
Despite the loss of one LGA to the opposition party, Governor Eno assured PDP supporters that this does not signify a decline in the party’s influence in the state. He called the election outcome a testament to democracy at work, saying, “Losing one LGA in an election doesn’t mean we have failed… It simply means we have allowed democracy to thrive.”
Governor Eno concluded by assuring the newly elected officials of his administration’s commitment to support them as they carry out their duties. He reaffirmed his dedication to delivering the dividends of democracy to all Akwa Ibom residents, regardless of their political affiliation. “We will continue to work collaboratively with all of you to continue to deliver good governance to our people. That’s what they expect us to do,” he said.
