Against the October 5 local government election in Akwa Ibom State, 10 transition chairmen are set to resign their appointments from office in accordance with the amended law.
The amended Independent Electoral Law, Cap, 69, laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022 has introduced some new issues into the law, one of such is that sitting chairmen must resign from office 30 days before the conduct of the election.
This is contrary to the old law, which demanded three months’ resignation before the election.
In keeping to the AKISIEC law, 10 transition chairmen and two commissioners in the state executive council, who emerged victorious during the primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will resign from their offices to contest for the election.
The local government chairmen affected by the arrangement include: Hon. Uko Umo, Etinan; George Henshaw, Mbo; Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, Uyo; Surv. Iniobong Ekpenyong, Uruan; Inibwhe Umah, Ini; Sunday Okon Etim, Mbo; Barr. Utibe Nwoko, Ika; Godwin Okponung, Udung Uko; Akaninyene Tommy, Eket, and Otobong Aaron, Nsit Ibom local government areas, respectively.
The two commissioners, who would also resign from the state executive council are Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Aniefiok Nkom, who will contest for the chairmanship seat of Ikot Ekpene area, while the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr. Uno Etim Uno, will resign and contest for Urue Offong Oruko chairmanship seat.
While the commissioners will hand over to the permanent secretaries in their ministries, the chairmen will handover to the Vice Chairmen and where the vice chairman was selected to contest with the chairman, the secretary of the council takes over the administration of the local government.
