Edo LG Crisis Deepens: More Council Chairmen Face Impeachment

The political turmoil in Edo State intensifies as additional local government councils move to impeach their chairmen over alleged misconduct and inefficiency.

On Thursday, the situation within Edo State’s local government councils evolved significantly.

Several people were injured when gunmen reportedly attacked the Uhunmwode Local Government Council headquarters in Egor.

The council’s chairman, Kenneth Adodo, claimed that the individuals involved in the shooting were police officers from the Edo State Government House.

This came after reports emerged about the impeachment of the chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government councils by the elected councillors.

Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadirihas, representing Owan East, responded promptly to his impeachment. He asserted that both his and Vice Hon Clement Ojebuovbo’s alleged impeachments were unconstitutional and unlawful.

On Wednesday, the councillors in Orhionmwon removed Hon Daniel Osariemen from his position as Leader of the house and appointed Hon Chuks Isan as his successor. They alleged that Osariemen was being mobilized to orchestrate the impeachment of Chairman Hon Newman Ugiagbe and Vice Chairman Midwest Ogbebor.

The allegedly suspended leader, Osariemen, was accused of leading unidentified individuals to seize the council’s secretariat in Abudu, where he reportedly assumed the role of acting chairman for the local government area.

According to a statement from Roy Osariemen, the Chief Press Secretary for the Orhionmwon LG Chairman, the event in Abudu was unlawful and Neeman Ugiagbe continues to be recognized as the chairman of the local government area.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City on Thursday, Okodo-Kadiri, the chairman of Owan East LGC, stated that his alleged impeachment proceedings were fraught with irregularities that violated legal provisions.

He cited the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000, amended in 2002, which detailed specific procedures for removing council executives.

Okodo emphasized that the councillors did not form a seven-member investigative panel and pointed out that the mace used in the impeachment process was not the official one from Owan East Local Government Council.

“The governor claimed that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million intended for salaries; however, this assertion is unfounded,” he stated.

In most councils, monthly salary expenses significantly surpass ₦50 million, and salaries were paid on time up to November, contrary to the governor’s claims.

“If any funds were misappropriated, where is the evidence? Our bank records are transparent, and all salaries have been paid.”

Furthermore, the alleged impeachment uncovered the involvement of two key councillors in the process—Hon. Haruna Mohammed and another member from Ward Seven who had been previously suspended for gross misconduct before the session.

He contended that the involvement of the suspended councillors in the proceedings made them invalid, and he highlighted that his office was not informed about their reinstatement, as required by due process.

He conveyed trust in the courts to take necessary action and overturn the unlawful impeachment proceedings.

Edo Assembly Puts LG Chairmen on Suspension

This recent incident occurred approximately three weeks after the Edo State House of Assembly approved a resolution to suspend all chairmen and vice-chairmen from the state’s 18 local government councils for a duration of two months.

The house also directed the leaders of the legislative branches to assume control of their respective councils.

The council chairmen and their deputies were suspended after a motion was proposed by Isibor Adeh, the representative for Esan North East one, and supported by Donald Okogbe, the representative for Akoko-Edo two.

Senator Monday Okpebholo, the state’s governor, submitted a petition to the House regarding the chairmen’s refusal to provide financial records of their local governments to the state government.

In the letter, the governor characterized their action as insubordination and gross misconduct and asked the House to investigate the matter.

When the issue was brought up for debate, 14 members voted in favor of the motion to suspend them, six opposed it, and three abstained from voting.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, had previously informed the members that everyone must voice their opinion on the matter.

Once everyone had spoken, the speaker instructed Yahaya Omogbai, the clerk of the House, to conduct a head count of members in favor or against suspending the council’s chairmen and their deputies.