Public office holders in Akwa Ibom wishing to go for elective positions in 2015 have been advised to resign in accordance with the electoral law.

Governor Godswill Akpabio said: “I want to encourage anybody who wishes to declare for any position to please do so. If you do so, you can opt out of government, you can resign or you can step aside whichever way you like it. But what it means is that you are still ready to serve the state.”

On whether his government has plans to reshuffle the cabinet, Akpabio, who fielded questions from Government House correspondents in Uyo at the weekend. stated responded: “I definitely hope not. But if anybody wishes to contest any election, the law states that you should resign. If you resign, we will have no option than to make a change. The electoral law expects that any public officer that wishes to declare his/her intention for any election should resign the present position and thereafter makes the declaration.

“So if there is any officer of government that wishes to declare his/her intention to contest for any elective office, the person has the right to resign. You cannot force somebody to sit in a position forever.”

The governor thanked people especially Umana Umana, the out-gone Secretary to the State Government, commissioners and special advisers who had taken part in the state government’s uncommon transformation and those who will serve in the future.