BY ETTAH EMMANUEL O.
A leading chairmanship aspirant in Obudu Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Akwagiobe, has commended Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, for signing the amended electoral law, which extends the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors to four years.
Describing the governor’s action as a ‘noble feat’, in the right direction, the chairmanship hopeful noted that it distinguishes Cross River State while aligning its local government officials with their counterparts in the Federal Capital Territory, thereby establishing a precedent for other states.
According to Akwagiobe, the revised electoral law is consistent with the Supreme Court’s and Cross River State’s stance, which is commensurate with the Supreme Court’s ruling granting full autonomy to local governments as the third tier of government, echoing the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra championed by the federal government.
While appreciating His Excellency, the former Community Liaison Officer in Obudu Local Government noted that: “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency for his move in signing the amended electoral law, which extends the tenure of local government officials in Cross River State. This noble feat is a testament to his commitment to progress.”
“Local Government administrations in every Nigerian state, except Cross River and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have a 3-year tenure. The Governor has shown leadership and commitment to local government autonomy, setting a precedent for other states to follow.”
Continuing, Honorable Akwagiobe extended his gratitude on the pivotal role of the Cross River State House of Assembly, stating that, “The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the entire 10th Assembly members demonstrated exceptional and proactive leadership, making this accomplishment a reality.”
