Speaker, Deputy Emerge As Clerk Inaugurates 8th A/Ibom Assembly

The 8th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been inaugurated with no fewer than 20 members out of the 26 members unanimously voting for Dr. Udeme Otong, the returning lawmaker representing the Abak State Constituency in Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District) as speaker.

The choice of Otong, LEADERSHIP gathered, followed the resolution of members to jettison the earlier consensus arrangement in which the member for Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio,  was said to have been tipped for the slot.

The member for Itu State Constituency, Mr. KufreAbasi Edidem, emerged the deputy speaker without opposition.

The inauguration of the 8th Assembly with Otong, as Speaker, checks by LEADERSHIP revealed, has balanced the zoning equation across the three senatorial districts, as the governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno and his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, are from Uyo Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-East) and Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South) respectively.