15kad-468b
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said yes­terday that Mr. Udom Em­manuel is not constitutionally recognised as governor of the state.

But the state government has said Udom remains a sub­stantive governor by law as the tribunal never sacked him from office.
Enang, in an interview with newsmen in Uyo on Saturday, said he based his reasons on the ruling of the Governor­ship Election Petition Tri­bunal, led by Justice Umar Sadiq, which nullified elec­tions in 18 out of the 31 local government areas of the state.
The presidential aide, who was in Uyo to receive an hon­orary doctorate degree in Law from the University of Uyo, averred that by the tribunal’s ruling, Udom does not have the constitutional two-thirds of votes as required by law.
“A section of the constitu­tion says for you to be elected or to be a governor of a state, you must have one quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of all the local governments. Two-thirds of the local gov­ernments must be 20 plus which must be 21 out of the 31 local government areas of the state.
“If elections in 18 local government areas are can­celled, then that election is cancelled because he does not have two-thirds to en­able him be the governor. But as at now, he has been sworn-in; he is on seat.”
The state’s Commis­sioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah coun­tered Enang in a statement made available to Inner room he insisted that Udom remains a duly elected governor.
Umanah said it was mere mischief and ignorance of the tribunal’s verdict and a display of utter ignorance of the position of the law, for any person, newspaper, organisation or body to ascribe an appellation of an acting governor on Mr. Udom Emmanuel, when neither the tribunal nor Su­preme Court has done so.