Tony Okoh || The lawmaker representing ukanafun state constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon otobong Jonathan Akpan, has commended security agencies, the Akwa Ibom Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC)for the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the area and across the state.
Ukanafun earlier described as a flash point by security agencies witnessed the most peaceful election on Saturday.
Akpan made the commendation in his ward 4 ikot mbang village ukanafun in an interview with journalists, shortly after casting his vote
The lawmaker, who said that the turnout of electorate was impressive, commended voters for complying with all electoral laws during the voting process in the area.
According to him, “in ukanafun, we insisted on a free, fair, credible and transparent election notwithstanding our earlier security challenges”
As a party, we went out campaigning from ward to ward, village to village, family to family and from door to door. We are a grassroots people, and that’s why we’ve always returned to the people. We’ve remained with them since after the 2015 general elections.
“We have been assisting the students, our women, the youths and the elderly, the low income earners and the farmers. When the people needed us the most, we were there for them.
“When they needed us during the recession, we were there for them. This is why they have supported us. This is why they have been responsive. The people have been our own “federal might”. When the people are with you, no ‘federal might’ can prevail”.
According to the lawmaker, the legislature had listened to the agitations for a democratically elected local government administration and had vowed not to extend the tenure of local govt transition committees further.
“His Excellency the governor saw the need for an election to be conducted. We did all these in response to the yearnings and aspirations of the Akwa Ibom people across party lines.
“By this election, we have pre-empted what will be the outcome of the constitutional amendment as it concerns the structure of the local government.
“This election is also going to get government to be more responsive to the needs of the people. This is because, unlike an appointee, an elected person understands that he holds the mandate of the people and he is the custodian of the trust of the people and will be properly guided.
“This means a lot. Without the house of assembly, what we have seen today would never have happened.