Udom forwards names of cabinet nominees to assembly

By Isaac Job, Uyo

Akwa Ibom state Governor, Udom Emmanuel has forwarded the name of the cousin to the former governor of the state and the names of other commissioner and special adviser nominees to the state House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.

Ukpong Akpabio, who is the cousin of Senator Godswill Akpabio, replaces Sir Ibanga Akpabio, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the former Senate minority leader dumped the PDP last year.

The list of nominees which was attached to a letter dated June 20 and presented to the House by the Clerk, Mrs. Mandu Umoren during Tuesday’s plenary indicates that over 90 per cent of the nominees were members of the recently dissolved state executive council.

Among the commissioner nominees according to the list are Akan Okon, Ime Ekpo, Nse Essien, Uwemedimo Nwoko, Monday Uko, Linus Nkan, Okpulupum Etteh, Ephraim Inyaneyen, Ekong Sampson and Charles Udoh

Others include Orman Esin, Iniobong Essien, Dominic Ukpong, Gloria Edet,

Udo Ekpenyong, Ukpong Akpabio, Uno Etim, Rapheal Bassey and Victor Bassey.

Also, the nominees for appointment as special advisers are Sunny Ibuot and Ekemini Umoh.

Receiving the governor’s letter and list of nominees, the Speaker, Aniekan Bassey committed same to the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, inaugurated shortly after presentation of the lists to screen the nominees and report back to the House in a week’s time.