2015 elections: Akpabio gives aides quit ultimatum

Governor Akpabio has urged Public office holders in Akwa Ibom State wishing to go for elective positions in 2015 to resign in accordance with the electoral law.

Chief Akpabio who fielded questions at the weekend from Government House correspondents in Uyo stated: “I want to encourage anybody who wishes to declare for any position to please do so. If you do so, you can opt out of government, you can resign or you can step aside whichever way you like it. But what it means is that you are still ready to serve the State”.

On whether his government has plans to reshuffle the cabinet, he responded: “I definitely hope not. But if anybody wishes to contest any election, the law states that you should resign. If you resign, we will have no option than to make a change. The electoral law expects that any public officer that wishes to declare his/her intention for any election should resign the present position and thereafter makes the declaration.

“So if there is any officer of government that wishes to declare his/her intention to contest for any elective office, the person has the right to resign. You cannot force somebody to sit in a position forever”, he remarked.

Akpabio thanked people especially the former Secretary to the State Government, commissioners and special advisers who had taken part in the state government and those who will serve in the future.

On the recent registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Governor noted: “I welcome the registration of APC and I welcome the registration of any political party. What is beautiful about democracy is the opportunity given to all and sundry to partake in the democratic process. As a party (the PDP), we don’t want a one-party state in Nigeria. We love challenges, we love opposition. So we look forward to working with APC. I can assure that APC is just going to be like any other party.