Aniefiok Christopher
Senator Godswill Akpabio has advocated the creation of more state constituencies in Akwa Ibom to ensure even representation of the 31 local government areas.
Speaking during the declaration of results of the APC House of Assembly primary held at the Essien Udim Council Secretariat, Afaha Ikot Ebak, Senator Akpabio noted that Akwa Ibom deserves more than 26 State Constituencies as currently applicable, and promised to collaborate with the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno towards ensuring more state constituencies are created for even representation.
“Each local government area ought to be represented by a Member in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly but that is for INEC and the rest of us to look at the constitutional provisions and look at the laws to see what we can do to bring that to bare. I am aware that some places, two local government areas share the same State Constituency which really should not be so,” he said.
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He noted that while for instance Essien Udim State Constituency has a representative in the State House of Assembly, some two local government areas have only one person as their representative.
The affected State constituencies are Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara, Etim Ekpo/Ika, Oron/Udung Uko, Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo and Esit Eket/Ibeno.
On the emergence of Prince Ukpong Akpabio as the APC candidate for the 2027 election, the Senate President noted that the result as announced by the Local Government Returning Officer shows that it was unanimous across the 11 wards of the state constituency and congratulated the lawmaker on his well-deserved victory.
“Prince Ukpong Akpabio is a worthy representative of our people and of me in the State House of Assembly. Prince, to whom much is given, much is expected”, he admonished.
He lauded Governor Umo Eno for his leadership style which has brought about the peaceful conduct of the primary and thanked the people for supporting the Governor’s developmental efforts.
“I commend the APC for the peaceful conduct of the exercise. No stone was thrown at anybody. INEC is here as observers, we have NGO’s and CSO’s from Abuja and other places who are here. And I believe they are shocked at the peaceful nature of Akwa Ibom people. This is who we are and it is as a result of the good governance brought about by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno”, he stated.
