Two commissioners in Akwa Ibom State have resigned from their positions to contest for the chairmanship seats in their respective Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the upcoming elections scheduled for October 5.
The commissioners who stepped down are Etim Uno, the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, representing Urueoffong Oruko LGA, and Aniefiok Nkom, the Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning, from Ikot Ekpene LGA.
During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries held on August 2, both Uno and Nkom secured the party’s tickets to contest the chairmanship positions for their respective LGAs. They are among 31 chairmanship candidates representing the PDP in the forthcoming polls.
Their decisions to resign and pursue local government leadership positions have sparked debates within the state’s political circles. Some view this move as a strategic effort to maintain political relevance, particularly in light of rumors that Governor Umo Eno may soon restructure his cabinet. Others speculate that the commissioners were motivated by the prospect of benefiting from the increased financial autonomy now enjoyed by local governments.
A source within the PDP, who preferred to remain anonymous, suggested, “Perhaps before the end of the month, they will leave office completely. I think they just want to go and enjoy the financial autonomy of the LGs. They still want to remain in government.”
