On Monday, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State officially swore in 31 newly elected local government chairmen following the polls held on October 5.
Of the new chairmen, 30 were elected under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while one is from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The newly elected officials received their Certificates of Return from the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) a day earlier.
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During the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Uyo, Governor Eno emphasized his administration’s commitment to working closely with the chairmen to ensure the delivery of effective governance to the citizens.
He specifically urged the new chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Ntiedo Usoro, to unite the community and be seen as the chairman for all, not just for the APC.
Eno stated, “Your election and subsequent swearing-in today affirm that our electoral process was fair. No one can claim otherwise. It was free and credible, which is why you are here today.”
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The governor encouraged collaboration among the chairmen, stressing that governance transcends party lines: “There’s no APC or PDP local government in governance. I want to remind all our chairmen that losing one local government area in an election doesn’t signify failure. It shows we have allowed democracy to flourish. You can lose the battle but still win the war.”
Eno reassured his party members that the loss of a single chairmanship seat does not indicate a decline in PDP’s influence in Akwa Ibom State.
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He expressed determination to support party members in Essien Udim LGA to ensure they access state-level benefits.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with all of you to deliver good governance to our people,” he concluded, highlighting the expectations of the citizens from their leaders.
