Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network has faulted the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly over the resolution it passed on Wednesday, 6th December, 2023, authorising the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to set up pocal government transition committees in the 31 local government areas of the state, describing the transition committees as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, ThePUNCH reports.

CHRAN made this known in a statement by its director and secretary, Mr Franklyn Isong and Secretary, Christopher, respectively on Wednesday

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Eno had, through a letter with reference number GHU/AKS/S/104/VOL.1/607, addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Udeme Otong, informed the House of Assembly that there was no provision in the 2023 budget for the conduct of local government elections, urging the Assembly to pass a resolution authorising him to set up interim administration at the 31 local government areas at the expiration of the tenure of the elected council officials on the 6th of December, 2023, a request that was speedily granted by the House of Assembly.

Isong, in a position paper during a stakeholders’ meeting on “Bill for a Law to amend the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission Law Cap 69 Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022, had frowned at what he called the “violation of Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) by the government of Akwa Ibom State.”

He said, “The Center is worried by Section 3 of the Bill, which seeks to amend Section 13 of the principal law, by deleting Section 13 of the Principal Law in its entirety and replacing it with a new Section 13 on the ground that Sub-section 2 of the new Section 13 appears to have been already violated, considering that the term of office of the last holders of elective offices in the local governments in Akwa Ibom State expired on the 6th of December, 2023.

“CHRAN views the current Local Government Transition Committees arrangement, imposed on the 31 local governments area in Akwa Ibom State by Governor Umo Eno, on 7th December, 2023, as unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional, considering the clear provision of Section 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Thus, that arrangement cannot qualify them as ‘holders of that office’ under Section 13(2) of the proposed amended AKISIEC Law.

“The CHRAN notes that the amendments sought by the Bill are aimed at bringing the Independent Electoral Commission Law, Cap.69, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022 in line and in sync with the Electoral Acts, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Center views this as a watershed for democratic practice, good governance and due process.

“The Center observes the near absence of governance and development at the local government level in Akwa Ibom State despite tremendous increase in allocation to the 31 local government areas from the Federation Account Allocation Committee FAAC, as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy

“The Center had through a petition dated 27th February, 2024 and addressed to the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otong, called on the House of Assembly to arrest the drift at the local government level and spur effective development at the grassroots level through urgent legislative intervention by way of oversight through the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“The Center is hopeful that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly will rise to the occasion and rescue the dying local government councils so that the amended AKSIEC Law will find the territorial bases for its application.

“The Center is optimistic that when this Bill is passed by the House of Assembly and assented to by the state governor, it will be fully implemented by this administration and subsequent administrations for the timely conduct of local government elections in Akwa Ibom State.”

Meanwhile, the Assembly Speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon KufreAbasi Edidem, had, while reacting to the position of CHRAN, insisted that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly acted within its constitutional powers.

The stakeholders’ meeting was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Edidem, who represented the Speaker, Hon. Otong, and was organised by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, chaired by Hon. Mfon Idung.

The meeting was attended by 17 members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and several stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, and AKISIEC chairman, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak.