APC secures Akpabio’s LG as PDP wins 30 councils in Akwa Ibom elections

The Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has won 30 chairmanship seats, leaving the All Progressives Congress with one seat.

This was contained in a list signed by the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, AniediAbasi Ikoiwak, on Sunday.

The only LGA where the All Progressives Congress (APC) won is Essien Udim, the area council of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Additionally, the PDP secured the majority of the councillorship seats across the state, solidifying its position as the ruling party.

However, the APC has contested the election results, claiming that the process was marred by widespread rigging, violence, and theft of materials by the PDP.

In a press release signed by the state publicity secretary of APC, OtoAbasi Udo, the party said that AKISIEC compromised the integrity and credibility of the election in favour of the PDP.

The press release reads in parts: “Yesterday, 5 October 2024, Local Government Elections to usher in new elected executive chairmen and councilors were conducted by AKISIEC (Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission), the tenure of the exiting chairmen and councillors having since come to an end by effluxion of time.

“AKISIEC just like any other SIEC in Nigeria is controlled and managed by the State Government. To that extent, there is a perceived and real influence of the electoral umpire by the State Government.

“And to that extent, the obvious result would be tilted in favour of the ruling party in the State. Therefore, what we saw and experienced yesterday was a manifestation of such influence beginning with acute shortages of election materials which disenfranchised quite a number of accredited voters, and actions of financial inducements on voters by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State.

“In spite of the above and more, the teeming supporters of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress, and APC in the State, all came out to support our candidates on the ballot.

“The Party, ably led by Obong Stephen Leo Ntukekpo, uses this opportunity to express her sincere thanks and appreciation to you all for your tireless, steadfast, unalloyed support and commitment to the Party and assure you that with the Supreme Court judgment that returned full autonomy to the third tier of government, the local government, enshrined in our constitution and the steps taken by the National Assembly to give full effect to the judgment, from the next local government election, all SIECs in charge of local government elections now, would have been dismantled, incapacitated and laid to rest and a bright prospect for future local government elections firmly put in place.”

Meanwhile, Governor Umo Eno has announced plans to swear in the elected chairmen on Monday, October 7, 2024.

This followed moves by AKISIEC to issue certificates of return to all the elected chairmen of the councils on Sunday.

Eno, who made this known while speaking at the All Nations Christian Ministry in Eket, said it was important to immediately inaugurate the democratically-elected officials to position local government area in the state for rapid development.

“Election was concluded yesterday. Results are trickling in. We are swearing in new chairmen tomorrow by 8 am. We want to thank those who have served. They have done well.

“The window we negotiated with the Federal Government was till October, and this is October. So we need to quickly swear in those chairmen so that they will start receiving their allocations and work for their people,” he said.