Senate to amend constitution over Supreme Court judgement on Councils’ autonomy – Akpabio

Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President has said that the Senate will amend the constitution to allow the Supreme Court Judgement on local government autonomy to be implemented

Akpabio stated this on Thursday, when he received members of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, who were members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Uyo.

A statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio saying, “I thank President Bola Tinubu, for looking for a way to bring the all needed autonomy to the local governments through the intervention of the Supreme Court.

“The Senate, under my leadership will tinker with the constitution to ensure that the judgment is fully implemented without any loopholes for manipulation by the practitioners.”

Speaking further on the return of the party members Akpabio said, “the only thing that is permanent in life is change. Before my coming into the APC, the party never won even a councillorship seat in the state and I came into the party in 2018, the then leaders of the party saw me as an enemy.

“During the 2019 elections, the APC worked against the APC. We had the best chance to have won the governorship and other elections in the state, but the then leaders refused to see it from that angle.

“I joined the APC so that we would be linked to the center and I thank God today that that dream finally came to pass in 2023. I am today the President of the Senate, through the grace of God Almighty, the support of President Bola Tinubu and my distinguished colleagues who elected me.

“God knew that I meant well for our people, so he elevated me to the position of the President of the Senate. When you raise people, your hands remain up and when you bring people down, your hands will also be down. So, follow person wey know road.”

Read also: Can LG autonomy aid good governance, development at the grassroots?

“On behalf of the party leadership, I welcome you back. I am happy that you have all returned to the party where you belonged. Now that you are back, May God bless you and grant the progressive desires of your hearts,” he prayed.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, who said they never left the party, Eteubong Alex Umoh, Obong Kufre Akpan and Roseline Eyang said, “we never left the APC. We never joined any other party, because we know you as the leader of the party in the state. We all recognise the President of the Senate as our leader in the state. We refused to be weapons of war in the hands of anybody against you and the party leadership.

“We are happy that we are all here today. There is no division in the APC because we are now one united family.”

The APC in Akwa Ibom State has been factionalised into camps following an unresolved leadership during the 2023 general election.

Speaking on steps to resolve the internal crisis, Ita Enang, a former senator and chairman of the local government elections campaign committee said efforts were being made to resolve the crisis in the party.

He acknowledged such crisis was not unexpected after two camps had emerged but added that after the Supreme Court judgement had recognised one of the factions, members were ready to work together.

Checks have revealed that former bigwigs of the party were absent at the launch of the party’s local government elections held at the Ikot Ekpene stadium on Wednesday.