The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State has indicated strong interest in the forthcoming Local Government election by filling candidates in all the Local Government Areas and wards in the state.
Speaking during a visit to the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo, the Chairman Local Governmet Campaign Committee, Senator Ita Enang said the party will kick off its campaign at the Ikot Ekpene Township stadium Wednesday 18th September, 2024.
Senator Enang, a former Presidential Adviser expressed confidence in APC’s victory in the forthcoming council polls in Akwa Ibom, noting that President Bola Tinubu had taken a bold step in granting local government autonomy in the country.
He also expressed confidence that the governor, Pastor Umo Eno as promised would maintain his stand on granting a level playing field to all parties during the polls.
Enang who claimed that “Akwa Ibom is APC but unfortunately governed by the PDP”, said the party has quality candidates who are not only ready to win elections but have the capacity to bring in dividends of democracy like tarring of roads, promotion of agriculture, management of local education authority among others, which he claimed were not carried out by the PDP council members.
“We are confident that the President having taken the bold step of ensuring the autonomy of local governments from states government and ensuring that government of Nigeria is run at three tiers as ought to be – Federal Government, state government, and local government – we are going to contest and we will win the elections in all the 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom State”.
“We are more than them. Akwa Ibom is APC state. Only, unfortunately, controlled by the PDP state government. We respect that they are in charge as government but we are more than them. So, we want to display our majority, our strength and our capacity in the forthcoming local government elections.
“I am sure you’ve not been satisfied with the performance of the local governments in Akwa Ibom State. Local governments have capacity under the law to tar roads, to do culverts, to manage local education authority, to repair and build primary schools, to embark on agriculture, produce food, to work and take part on land matters in local government, issuing customary rental capacity. But that has not happened in Akwa Ibom State.”
Senator Enang, a lawyer and one who started his Political journey as a councilor however expressed reservations on the fairness of the AKISIEC chairman, Aniediabasi Ikoiwak following what he described as “his antecedents”.
