The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hauled 30 local government Chairmanship seats while All Progressives Congress jogged home with a paltry one in the Akwa Ibom local government elections held on October 5.
Straightnews reports that the 31 chairmen-elect and the Vice-Chairmen-elect of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State collected their certificates of return at AKISIEC Headquarters, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo on Sunday, October 6.
Speaking at the occasion, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) congratulated the elected local government helmsmen for fighting a good fight to emerge victorious in the elections.
Ikoiwak admonished them to work harder as elected representatives of the third tier of government in the state, knowing that winning battles behove on them to give effective representation to people at the grassroot.
He called for a minute silence in honour of the departed Pastor Patience, wife of Akwa Ibpom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
The Winners
Earlier, in a press release of October 6, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, Executive Chairman of AKISIE, had published that Aniefiok Isaac Nkom is the Chairman-elect of Ikot Ekpene – PDP.
Other Chairmen-elect include Sunday Festus Akpan – Oruk Anam – PDP; Utibe Thomas Nwoko – Ika – PDP; Akaninyene Tommey Ikott – Eket – PDP; Mrs Ime Effiong Charles – Abak – PDP; Inibehe Monday Umah – Ini – PDP; Otobong Okon Essien – Ikono – PDP; Okon Asukwo Enweme – Oron – PDP; George Okon Henshaw – Okobo – PDP and Prince Uyo Ukpanah – Ukanafun – PDP; and Uwemedimo Udo – Uyo – PDP.
Others include Otobong S.Aaron – Nsit Ibom – PDP; Simon Domic Akpan – Obot Akara – PDP; Ime Williamson Essien – Ikot Abasi – PDP; Edidiong Joseph Inyang – Ibesikpo Asutan – PDP; Iniobong Ekpenyong – Uruan – PDP; Uduak Ikott – Esit Eket – PDP; Alfred Akpan Charles – Nsit Ubium – PDP; Gideon L. Uwa – Etim Ekpo – PDP; Emmanuel John Inyang – Mkpat Enin – PDP and Ubong Willson Nkutt – Itu – PDP.
The rest are Glory Ekah Effiong – Ibeno – PDP; Uno Etim Uno – Urue Offông/ Oruko- PDP; Anthony Effiong Nyong – Nsit Atai – PDP; Sunday Okon Etim – Mbo – PDP; Samuel Ntegwuijah – Eastern Obolo – PDP; Godwin Okponung – Udung Uko – PDP; Uko Friday Umoh – Etinan – PDP; Kufre Okon Umoren – Onna – PDP and Asuakak Udo Umoh – Ibiono Ibom – PDP.
Usoro Ntiedo Effiong is the Chairman-elect of Essien Udim Local Government Area under APC.
The 31 local government chairmen would be sworn in on Monday, October 7, 2024 at Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo at 8 a.m.
List of winners
Contentious Result
Tension is building in Akwa Ibom State following conflicting results announced by AKISIEC on the chairmanship seat in the Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA), the home constituency of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A report monitored by The Vanguard says that Inyang Ating, a professor from the University of Uyo who served as the Returning Officer (RO) for Essien Udim LGA, initially declared Enobong Patrick Friday of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner during the results announcement on Saturday, highlighting a landslide victory for the candidate.
In a surprising twist, results released on Sunday by Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, the Chairman of AKISIEC, declared Ntiedo Usoro of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the elected candidate for Essien Udim LGA.
While the AKISIEC results did not disclose the specific vote counts for each candidate, the earlier declaration by the RO indicated that PDP’s Enobong Patrick Friday secured a staggering 55,612 votes, defeating his closest rival, APC’s Ntiedo Usoro, who garnered 686 votes.
Prof. Ating stated in his official results declaration: “I hereby certify that I was the Returning Officer for the election held on the 5th of October 2024. The election was contested, and the candidates received the following votes:
Hon. Ntiedo Usoro of the APC: 686 votes
Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday of the PDP: 55,612 votes
“Engr. Enobong Patrick Friday, having complied with the requirements of the law and having scored the majority of votes, is hereby declared elected. He also received more than 25% of the votes in all 13 wards of Essien Udim. I so declare and I hereby sign as the Returning Officer.”
