Women in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno during a civic sensitisation programme on voter registration, party e-registration, and cooperative development.
The event was held at the Council Headquarters, Okoita, as part of the state’s ongoing Women Sensitisation Tour across all 31 local government areas.
Deputy Governor Senator Akon Eyakenyi described Governor Eno as a gender-friendly leader who values women’s contributions to governance and development. She conveyed the Governor’s appreciation to the women of Ibiono Ibom and assured them of the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance.
Eyakenyi noted that women constitute over 50 percent of the local population and urged them to obtain, protect, and actively use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during elections. She also encouraged women with expired or damaged PVCs to visit INEC offices for replacement.
She further charged the local government chairman to ensure effective mobilisation of women for civic exercises, including voter registration, PVC collection, APC membership e-registration, and National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment.
The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs Helen Obareki, explained that the tour was initiated to educate women on their civic rights and responsibilities. She urged women to remain actively engaged in the political process to ensure continued support for the administration and the APC in forthcoming elections.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperative and Rural Development, Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong, highlighted opportunities under the ARISE Agenda to enhance women’s participation in cooperative societies. She urged women traders and entrepreneurs to form cooperatives within their wards, noting that possession of PVCs and NINs would be essential to access empowerment programmes.
Hon. Moses Essien, member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, highlighted the importance of women’s civic engagement, citing ongoing federal and state projects in the area, including the Mother and Child Hospital, Idoro Road, and Use Ikot Amama Road, as examples of responsive governance.
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