By Solomon OKPO | The Evangelist News Desk
The Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation has commended the Akwa Ibom State Government, the State House of Assembly and the leadership of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) for the passage of the AKISIEC Law, 2026, and the announcement of Saturday, August 28, 2027, as the date for the next local government elections in the state.
However, the organisation has called on Governor Umo Eno to urgently constitute the electoral commission by appointing a chairman and commissioners, while also demanding the immediate publication of the newly enacted law in the State Gazette and on official government platforms.
The foundation made the position known in a press release issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and signed electronically by its Founder and President, Citizen Matthew Koffi Okono.
Open Forum described the passage of the law and the release of the election notice as significant steps towards strengthening democratic governance at the grassroots, particularly in view of the constitutional requirements and the need to avoid a legal vacuum in the administration of local government elections.
The organisation applauded Governor Eno for initiating and transmitting the amended executive bill to the State House of Assembly, noting that the move demonstrated political will towards establishing an appropriate legal framework for the 2027 council polls.
It also commended the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, and members of the legislature for the expedited passage of the bill following a public hearing held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The foundation further praised the AKISIEC Secretary, Dr. Uduak Udoh, for what it described as his commitment to statutory responsibilities, particularly the stakeholders’ engagement held on Friday, October 30, involving political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and other relevant stakeholders.
According to Open Forum, the timely issuance of the election notice was necessary to ensure compliance with the 300-day notice requirement stipulated by the AKISIEC Law ahead of the August 28, 2027 election.
Despite welcoming these developments, the organisation identified two major areas requiring urgent government attention.
First, it expressed concern that the law, although reportedly passed and assented to, had not been made publicly accessible. It therefore urged the government to publish the legislation to enable political parties, civil society groups, the media and citizens to examine its provisions and understand the legal framework governing the forthcoming elections.
Second, Open Forum called on Governor Eno to appoint and forward the names of the AKISIEC chairman and commissioners to the State House of Assembly for confirmation, stressing that the commission must be fully constituted to effectively discharge its responsibilities.
The group warned that having an electoral law without a fully constituted electoral commission could create legal uncertainties and potentially undermine preparations for the elections.
It consequently advised that further electoral activities should be suspended until the commission is properly constituted, arguing that such a precaution would minimise possible legal challenges and avoid unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
On the outstanding issues raised during the public hearing, Open Forum disclosed that it had advocated the removal of AKISIEC from the category of revenue-generating agencies, particularly in view of the non-refundable fees charged to electoral candidates.
It also called for explicit provisions recognising electronic, manual and hybrid methods of conducting elections, among other recommendations aimed at strengthening electoral transparency and credibility.
The organisation maintained that Akwa Ibom State should adopt a progressive electoral framework rather than replicate what it described as questionable practices in other states.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic accountability, Open Forum said it would deploy election observers and civic education platforms across the 31 local government areas to promote credible, inclusive and peaceful elections in 2027.
The foundation also urged political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and residents of the state to support the electoral process while demanding transparency and accountability from all stakeholders.
It emphasised that the objective of local government elections should go beyond producing political officeholders for influential individuals, insisting that the process must produce elected representatives who genuinely serve the interests of the people.
“The process to change the narrative has kick-started. We promise to follow the process all the way,” the organisation stated.
Open Forum described its intervention as part of its intellectual revolution towards realising the Akwa Ibom Dream of excellence, productivity and effective service delivery.
