The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State is gearing up to launch its campaign for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024.

Senator Ita Enang, who chairs the APC’s Local Government Campaign and Planning Committee in the state, announced on Tuesday in Uyo that the campaign kickoff will take place on September 18 at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium.

Enang expressed his optimism regarding the party’s chances of success in the upcoming council elections, highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s significant decision to grant local government autonomy across the nation.

He also conveyed his belief that Governor Pastor Umo Eno would uphold his promise to ensure a fair electoral environment for all parties, although he voiced concerns about the impartiality of the AKISIEC chairman, Ikoiwak, due to his past actions.

Claiming that “Akwa Ibom is APC territory, albeit unfortunately governed by the PDP,” Enang stated that the party boasts capable candidates ready not only to secure victory but also to deliver essential services such as road construction, agricultural advancement, and effective management of local educational authorities—efforts he argued have been neglected by the PDP’s local government representatives.

“On September 18, we will officially kick off the APC’s local government election campaign at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium,” he declared.

“We are confident that with the President’s courageous move to ensure local government independence from state control, we can effectively operate at three tiers of government: federal, state, and local. Having liberated local governments from state dominance, we are prepared to contest and triumph in all 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State.

“We are larger than them. Akwa Ibom is fundamentally an APC state, though it is currently under the control of a PDP-led government. We respect their authority, but we are confident in our strength, and we aim to showcase our majority in the forthcoming local government elections.

“I’m certain you are not satisfied with the performance of local governments in Akwa Ibom State. Local governments possess the legal capacity to construct roads, manage culverts, oversee local educational authorities, and engage in agricultural initiatives, yet these responsibilities have not been adequately fulfilled in our state.”