Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State swore in 31 newly elected local government chairmen on Monday, following the polls held on October 5. Among those sworn in, 30 were elected under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while one chairperson represented the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The newly elected chairmen received their Certificates of Return from the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) the day before their swearing-in at the Government House in Uyo. Governor Eno emphasized that his administration would work collaboratively with the chairmen to ensure effective governance for the people.
He specifically urged Ntiedo Usoro, the newly sworn-in chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, to foster unity among residents and to see himself as the council chairman for all, rather than just an APC representative. Eno stated, “Your election and subsequent swearing-in today demonstrate that our process was fair. Nobody can claim that it was not free. It was fair and credible, and that’s why you are here.”
He reassured all chairmen that losing one local government seat does not signify a failure of the PDP in the state. “You can lose the battle but still win the war. I know that we feel bad, but this is the beauty of democracy,” he said, underscoring that Akwa Ibom remains a PDP-controlled state.
The governor reiterated his commitment to working closely with all chairmen to deliver the expected dividends of democracy to the citizens.