2023: Akwa Ibom Councillors distance selves from endorsement of Umo Eno

Some councillors in Akwa Ibom State have denied endorsing Pastor Umo Bassey Eno as Governorship candidate for 2023.

There were reports that the grassroots lawmakers threw their weight behind Eno, who is being supported by incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel.

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But some councillors, who denied this, said they had not even sat down to discuss their welfare, let alone endorsing anybody for governorship.

On February 17, 2022, Councillors from the 31 Local Government Areas and 368 Wards in Akwa Ibom State were invited to a consultation meeting at Ibom Hall, IBB Avenue, Uyo, where the team of Eno consulted them.

At the meeting, only three Councillors were reportedly selected to speak on behalf of the entire Councillors from the three senatorial districts of the State.

The trio were said to have endorsed Eno for the 2023 race.

But reacting in a statement, the Councillors said it is regrettable that they were not allowed to express themselves, stressing that the three people that spoke did so on their own.

They insisted that councillors in Akwa Ibom State are still very open to receiving any governorship aspirant that is willing to consult them.

“The Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong has never call us to a meeting and it’s very sad that he has never talk to the Governor to organize seminar or workshop for the Councillors so as to help us understand the legislative rudiments and procedures, all he did is to come and choose somebody to move endorsement motion,”

“The Governor, on his own, has not formally told us about his anointed candidate, so it would be very wrong for us to just wake up and endorse anybody.

“We have the right to support any candidate of our choice. Even at the level of MPM no Councillor in Akwa Ibom State was recognize in their respective wards. Councillors have been relegated to the background and will definitely resist their antics at the polls.”