Akwa Ibom Assembly Returns To Abandoned Chambers, But Questions Persist
By BASSEY BENSON
THE Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has resolved to return to its main complex along Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo for legislative proceedings, despite stalled renovation work and growing concerns over the condition of the facility.
Lawmakers reached the decision during a special sitting held at the assembly complex on Thursday.
The House had relocated its activities to a temporary chamber at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs within the Government House to allow renovation work to proceed at the main complex.
However, the project has recorded little visible progress after more than nine months, raising questions about the state of the facility and the prolonged displacement of legislative activities.
Lawmakers Vote to Return
The House resolved to resume plenary at the Udo Udoma Avenue complex pending any final notice from the contractor requiring lawmakers to vacate the chamber for construction work.
The member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Akpabio, moved the motion. Bassey Bassey, who represents Okobo State Constituency, seconded it.
Chief Whip Effiong Johnson supported the proposal and said the decision reflected the position of the majority of lawmakers.
The resolution effectively signals the lawmakers’ determination to return to their original legislative home, even as uncertainty continues to surround the renovation project.
However, Speaker Udeme Otong later adjourned the House sine die, ending the session indefinitely without announcing a date for the next sitting.
The decision has added another layer of uncertainty to the Assembly’s immediate plans.
Former Lawmakers Raise Alarm
The special sitting also served as a valedictory session in honour of the late Imo Ibokette, a former Majority Leader of the Assembly who represented Abak State Constituency between 1999 and 2003.
Former lawmakers joined serving members for the occasion.
Before the session began, some of the former legislators toured the complex and expressed concern over the condition of the building and the slow pace of the renovation.
A former Speaker, who spoke during the inspection, expressed surprise that the complex had deteriorated despite the renovation project.
He argued that previous assemblies would not have allowed the situation to continue for such a prolonged period.
His comments reflected wider concerns about the state of a facility that serves as one of the central institutions of government in Akwa Ibom State.
Flooding & Weather Exposure Deepen Concerns
Parts of the complex have reportedly suffered exposure to the weather since renovation activities began.
Concerns have also emerged over flooding in sections of the facility, particularly after parts of the roof were removed during the renovation process.
The Assembly now faces the difficult task of balancing the need to resume normal legislative activities with concerns over the safety and condition of the building.
Lawmakers have not publicly explained whether the contractor has formally certified the main chamber as suitable for regular legislative proceedings.
The House also has not provided a clear timeline for the completion of the renovation.
These unanswered questions could become more significant when lawmakers eventually resume plenary.
Signs of Internal Disagreement
The resolution to return to the complex also came amid reports of differences among some members of the Assembly.
The House Leader, Otobong Bob, left the chamber shortly before lawmakers raised the motion and did not return before the sitting ended.
Some lawmakers later suggested that the proposal had not received prior discussion among all members of the Assembly leadership.
Others claimed that the Speaker was unhappy with the manner in which the resolution emerged.
Those claims could not be independently verified.
The House Leader also did not publicly clarify his position on the matter.
The development has therefore fuelled speculation about possible divisions over the timing and circumstances of the Assembly’s planned return.
An Unfinished Renovation & an Uncertain Return
The Assembly had previously considered returning to the Udo Udoma complex in June after a security situation disrupted access to its temporary legislative chamber.
At the time, the Speaker directed the House Services Committee to prepare the main chamber for legislative activities.
That move, however, generated controversy and eventually led to the suspension of the Speaker’s press secretary over what the Speaker’s office described as an unauthorised publication.
The latest resolution again places the Assembly at a critical point.
Lawmakers want to resume work at their permanent complex. Yet the building still faces unresolved renovation and maintenance challenges.
The eventual success of the return will depend on whether the facility can safely accommodate legislative activities and whether the authorities can bring the stalled renovation project back on track.
For now, the decision has renewed attention on the condition of the Assembly complex and the need for clear answers on the future of one of Akwa Ibom State’s most important public institutions.
