Akwa-ibom commissioners resign to run for council chairmanship

Two serving Akwa-ibom state commissioners have resigned from their positions to contest for the chairmanship seats in their respective Local Government Areas, scheduled for October 5.

The duo includes the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Etim Uno from Urueoffong Oruko LGA and Aniefiok Nkom, Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning from Ikot Ekpene LGA.

In the statewide Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries held on 2 August, the duo secured the party tickets to contest the chairmanship for their respective LGs, emerging among 31 Chairmanship candidates on the platform of the PDP for the coming polls.

Their decision to contest the local government council chairmanship seats and their subsequent nomination has been generating debates within the political circle in the state.

While some see the development as a smart move to remain active in the system ahead of the alleged looming sack of cabinet members by Governor Umo Eno, others argue that both commissioners were lured to resign by the greed to enjoy increased allocations flowing into council coffers following local government financial autonomy.

A PDP insider and civil servant who spoke on anonymity alleged, “Maybe before the end of the month they would leave office completely. I think they just want to go and enjoy LG’s financial autonomy. They still want to remain in government “