By Theresa Donatus, Uyo
The Center for Human Rights & Accountability Network (CHRAN) has commended the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for its proactive legislative step toward institutionalizing a peaceful and orderly transition of executive power in the state.
Speaking at a public hearing held at the Old Chapel of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, presented the organization’s position on the proposed legislation titled: “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Peaceful and Orderly Transfer of Executive Power from One Democratically Elected Governor to Another and for Matters Connected Therewith.”
The public hearing followed an invitation dated July 24, 2025, from the House Committee on Inter-Governmental, Political, and Special Matters. CHRAN’s detailed review of the bill, received on July 25, was presented during the session.
Sponsored by Hon. Moses Essien (Ibiono Ibom State Constituency) and co-sponsored by 10 other lawmakers, including House Leader Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob, the Bill comprises 15 sections and one schedule. It is structured into four functional parts, although it is erroneously labeled as having only three.
The legislation aims to prevent disruptions during the transfer of power and ensure continuity in governance following the expiration of a Governor and Deputy Governor’s tenure.
While supporting the Bill’s objectives, CHRAN offered several technical and structural amendments which includes Corrective Edits where The group will flag omissions and grammatical errors, such as missing words in Sections 6(3) and 8(2), and recommended corrections to ensure clarity and legal precision.
Static Reference to Electoral Act: CHRAN urged the removal of the year “2022” in Section 2(1), warning that anchoring the law to a specific version of the Electoral Act would make it outdated if amended in the future.
Composition of Transition Committee: The organization proposed that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) should serve as the Committee Secretary, not the Chairman; It recommended that a retired judge or technocrat be appointed as Committee Chairman to ensure expertise in managing transition processes; The Office of the Chief of Staff, not being a legal entity, should be excluded from the Committee’s composition.
On Expanded Membership, CHRAN called for broader inclusion by adding representatives from labour unions and civil society organizations (CSOs) to the Committee. It also proposed a clause mandating the formation of the Committee even when a governor is re-elected.
About Security Concerns, The group urged the deletion of Section 3(b), arguing that it intrudes into security matters and could open avenues for corruption through misuse of security votes.
Oversight of Ministries, CHRAN proposed that the Transition Committee should independently receive reports from all state ministries to gain comprehensive insight into government activities and on Remuneration Clause, the group recommended that no additional remuneration be paid to public servants serving on the Committee to prevent financial duplication.
In his conclusion, Isong commended the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for its commitment to strengthening democratic structures and ensuring smooth governance transitions.
He expressed confidence that the Bill, once passed and forwarded to Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D., would receive prompt executive assent. CHRAN also acknowledged the Speaker, leadership, and members of the Assembly for the opportunity to contribute to the legislative process.
“This is a forward-thinking move towards democratic consolidation. We believe our recommendations will enhance the robustness of the legislation and serve the best interests of the people of Akwa Ibom State,” Isong stated.
