In line with Governor Umo Eno’s avowed determination to bring government closer to the people and enhance grassroots development, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) has concluded plans to create five more state constituencies.
Checks revealed that if implemented, the number of state constituencies would be raised from the current 26 to 31, with virtually all the 31 local government areas having a representation.
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The motion which was sponsored by the member representing Ikono state constituency, Hon Asuquo Udo (YPP), in pursuant of Order (3) Rule (1) of the Standing Order of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, and was considered during plenary on Tuesday.
The Ikono lawmaker in the motion entitled, “The Need to Create Additional State Constituencies in Akwa Ibom State,” maintained that considering the political advancement of Akwa Ibom since creation 35 years ago, “the state is long overdue for additional State Constituencies.”
Making reference to Katstina State which was created on the same date with Akwa Ibom and which has 15 federal constituencies and 34 state constituency seats, Hon Udo held that Akwa Ibom State deserves no fewer than 31 state constituencies.
He said the creation of 39 new political wards across the three senatorial districts of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket, by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), has not only delimited the state’s political wards, but has also prepared the state for national political expansion.
He said Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which states that “State Assemblies shall consist of three or four times the number of seats which that state has in the House of Representatives divided in a way to reflect, as far as possible nearly equal population: Provided that a House of Assembly of a state shall consist of not less than 24 and not more than 40.”
The lawmaker, therefore, urged the House to “communicate to National Assembly caucus, with appeal to prevail on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all other government agencies responsible for the creation of additional Constituencies to comply with the provision of the constitution by creating at least five additional state constituencies in Akwa Ibom State.”
However, the speaker, Hon Udeme Otong, directed the clerk, Mrs Nsikak Abasi Orok, to communicate the resolution of the House to the National Assembly Caucus and INEC.