Some concerned members of Akwa Ibom State Community in Lagos (AKISCOM) have appealed to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umoh Eno, to intervene in the issues arising from the organization’s forthcoming general election expected to be held this Saturday, 18th, 2023.
The members include Cornell Udofia, former Public Relations Officer of AKISCOM and President CMC Gladiators; Vice President 1, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Dr Godwin Akpan; General Secretary, Uruan Local Government Area, AKISCOM, Akan Aden Don Nyong; and Vice President Uyo Senatorial District Chairman / Investment Committee Chairman Ibesikpo Asutan, Pastor Gabriel Bassey.
AKISCOM is a socio-political organization in Lagos made up of members from the 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom residing in Lagos.
While addressing journalists during a press conference held on Thursday in Lagos, the concerned members addressed the issue, alleging that six Local Government Areas have been disfranchised for various reasons, including the issue of finance, even after paying the necessary fees to vote and be voted for. Some of the few local government areas were not able to meet up with their payments.
The affected LGAs include Ibesikpo/Asutan, Nsit Ubium, Nsit Atai, Uruan, Ika, and Oruk Anam.
One of the members of the group, Cornell Udofia, described the matter concerning Uruan LGA as very peculiar. “Uruan cleared their dues without owing, yet they are not allowed to vote in the forthcoming Saturday’s election.” Udiofia expressed dismay that even the President of AKISCOM, who promised to ensure that Uruan votes, could not handle the issue. “We are not happy.
The government of Akwa Ibom, led by Pastor Umoh Eno, should be aware that we are not happy with what is going on. Even the intervention of the Lagos Liaison Officer, Samuel Asuquo, who visited and advised we should put all kinds of problems behind so that everybody would contest, was not complied with.
He made the appeal in good faith to tell us to allow peace to reign for the sake of unity, peace, and prosperity, yet they defied it.”
Pastor Gabriel Bassey, also a group member, appealed for peace. “We want justice. Without the 6 Local Governments, Akwa Ibom cannot be complete. We want the State government of Akwa Ibom to look into it so that we will have a successful election. Whoever emerges successful will be accepted, and we will walk along with them.”
Expressing his own view, Dr Godwin Akpan, stated, “I see favouritism, sentimentalism. AKISCOM is a body that controls all the LGAs of Akwa Ibom State in Lagos. We have three Senatorial Districts: Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket Senatorial. All are subjects to AKISCOM. I want the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umoh Eno, to know that we have been disenfranchised and sidelined from the upcoming election conducted by the AKISCOM 2023. The Financial department of AKISCOM failed to tell us, Ibesikpo LGA, how much we owe.
We made efforts to pay, yet we are not allowed to participate in the election. Despite all the meetings to make peace, it ended in shambles. I am not happy that my LG is disfranchised. We should bring back peace so that we remain in safety.”
The concerned members came to the conclusion that they wanted peace to reign and encouraged all the voters to go out and cast their votes for their conscience, capacity, and track record. They urged the electoral committee to allow all the election candidates and their voters to participate in the election.