Powerful Nigerian Governor Vows To Sack Council Chairpersons Who Refuse To Reside In Rural Areas

Powerful Nigerian Governor Vows To Sack Council Chairpersons Who Refuse To Reside In Rural Areas

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has declared his intention to dismiss any local government official who does not reside in their rural communities. The governor made this announcement on Thursday at Government House, Uyo, during the swearing-in ceremony for an interim administration for the 31 local government areas in the state.

The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly had earlier approved the governor’s request to constitute the interim administration as the tenure of the elected officials expired at midnight on Wednesday. Governor Eno, while administering the oath of office, emphasized his commitment to ensuring that the officials reside in their respective domains.

Previously, the governor had submitted a bill to the State Assembly to compel principal officers of the local councils to reside in their domains, but he later withdrew it.

He cited Section 78 of Akwa Ibom State Law 2017, which mandates principal officers to reside in their respective domains, and warned that contravention of this section would be considered “misconduct” and an “indictable offence.”

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“Let me state very clearly that you must reside in your respective local government areas. You cannot administer your council from another location.

“If you are living in Uyo and governing your local government, if I find out I will gather intelligence, compile my records, we will announce you removed.

“Go home and stay with your people, make the local government work. If you know you won’t stay in your local government area, you are free to resign now,” the governor said.

During the presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill to the state assembly, Governor Umo Eno disclosed his plans to construct lodges at local council headquarters for principal officers. He expressed his determination to ensure that these officials live in rural areas, despite the common practice of commuting from Uyo, the state capital.

It remains unclear how the governor will implement this residency requirement, especially considering past challenges faced by similar initiatives. Previous attempts, such as security villages constructed by former Governor Godswill Akpabio, were left abandoned and neglected as council officials hesitated to relocate.

Governor Eno also announced that the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) will conduct local government elections in the current year, with funds allocated in the 2024 budget. He emphasized that zoning will play a crucial role for anyone aspiring to contest the local election within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighting his own political journey as a product of zoning.

“If zoning in PDP does not favour you, please do not waste your time and resources to pursue an office, you will not get it.

“You can buy forms, the party needs money but I can assure you when we start screening we will respect (zoning) because the problems start when we try to enforce and push people over one another.

“If zoning does not favour you, no way,” he stressed.

The last election conducted by the state electoral commission in Akwa Ibom State took place in 2020, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged victorious in all 31 local government areas, securing victory in all councillorship positions as well.

Governor Umo Eno did not specify the duration of the interim administration or provide a timeline for the upcoming elections. However, he mentioned that the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) has initiated the process for conducting the local government elections.