Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has expressed the Senate’s intent to amend the constitution to support the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy. Speaking during a visit from members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, loyal to former APC Interim National Secretary Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, Akpabio stressed the need to ensure that the ruling is fully enforced without any opportunity for manipulation.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I commend President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to granting autonomy to local governments through the intervention of the Supreme Court. Under my leadership, the Senate will work on constitutional amendments to guarantee the judgment’s full implementation.”
Akpabio also addressed the party dynamics in Akwa Ibom, recounting the challenges faced when he joined the APC in 2018. He explained that before his arrival, the party struggled to win even local seats, and internal divisions weakened their chances in the 2019 elections. He stated that his goal in joining APC was to connect the state to the national center, a dream that came true in 2023, as he now serves as Senate President, with the backing of President Tinubu and his Senate colleagues.
Welcoming the APC members who had remained loyal, Akpabio remarked, “The only thing constant in life is change. I welcome you back to the party where you truly belong, and I pray for God’s blessings upon your progressive endeavors.”
In response, representatives of the returnees, Eteubong Alex Umoh, Obong Kufre Akpan, and Mrs. Roseline Eyang, emphasized their loyalty to the APC and to Akpabio’s leadership, expressing their joy in returning to a united APC family in the state.