BREAKING: Abia Assembly Deputy Speaker Clarifies Local Government Tenure Amid Controversy

The Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini (Ugolee), has dispelled concerns over an alleged two-year tenure for elected local government mayors and councillors, affirming that their term remains four years.

Speaking on the matter, Rt. Hon. Meregini, who also chairs the House Committee on Media and Publicity and serves as the official spokesperson for the 8th Assembly, clarified that any mention of a two-year term in the bill under consideration was an error.

According to him, Governor Alex Otti remains committed to fairness and due process, ensuring that standards are not altered arbitrarily.

"The fact is that whoever may have seen two years in that bill should know it was an error. I have laid it to rest now by clarifying that the tenure is four years,ÔÇØ he stated firmly.

He assured the public that the bill, which has passed its second reading, will proceed to the committee stage next week for further deliberation.

"I have spoken to some radio stations, and I am using this medium to reinforce that once this bill is passed into law, the tenure will officially be four years, not two,ÔÇØ Meregini added.