Residents and stakeholders of Ikot Idem Udo Village in Okon, Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State have unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Village Head, Eteirung Obong U. U. Asanga, reaffirming their support for his leadership and commitment to peace after more than four decades on the traditional stool.
The resolution formed the highpoint of a stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting convened by the Ikot Idem Udo Development Association (IDEA) and held at the Ikot Idem Udo Civic Centre on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
The meeting, presided over by the International President of IDEA, Atuekong Anthony Ekutt, brought together community leaders, elders, women, youths and other stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the peace, unity and development of the village.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders expressed gratitude to God for the prevailing peace in the area and for preserving the life of the Village Head, described as one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in the state, having occupied the stool for over 42 years.
The gathering praised Eteirung Obong Asanga for what it described as exemplary leadership, peaceful disposition and dedication to harmonious coexistence among members of the community.
“The meeting unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the Village Head for his exemplary leadership, commitment to peace and efforts in sustaining harmonious coexistence among members of the community,” the communiqué stated.
The stakeholders also used the occasion to commend one of the community’s prominent sons, Mr. Kenneth Okon, for his contributions to education, infrastructure and human capital development in Ikot Idem Udo and the wider Okon Clan.
According to the communiqué, Mr. Okon equipped St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School with computer sets, engaged additional teachers to complement government staff, donated school uniforms and educational materials to pupils, and provided a set of drums for the school.
He was further applauded for renovating dilapidated classroom blocks in the school, grading major rural roads within the community and installing streetlights across the area.
Community leaders noted that many of the roads had remained impassable for years and posed serious risks to commuters before the intervention.
The meeting also stressed the need for unity and cooperation among all segments of the community, including youths, women, elders and indigenes in the diaspora, urging them to continue supporting the Village Head and Village Council in sustaining peace and stability.
Stakeholders further emphasized respect for constituted authority and adherence to established leadership structures in the interest of orderliness and communal harmony.
In another major resolution, the meeting announced the indefinite suspension of the youth election earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, to allow for wider consultations among stakeholders.
The Electoral Committee previously constituted to conduct the election was also dissolved, with stakeholders resolving to establish a more credible and transparent electoral body for the process.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Atuekong Anthony X. Ekutt, International President of IDEA; Edidiong Idemokon, Secretary; and Mr. Peter A. Useh, Patron.
