The crisis rocking local government councils in Edo State escalated on Thursday as gunmen reportedly stormed the Uhunmwode Local Government Council headquarters in Egor, leaving several people injured. Kenneth Adodo, the chairman of Uhunmwode LGA, alleged that the gunmen were policemen from the Edo State Government House, a claim that adds a new twist to the ongoing political turmoil in the state.
The violence comes in the wake of reported impeachments of the chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government councils by their elected councillors.
In Orhionmwon, tensions boiled over after councillors impeached the Leader of the House, Hon. Daniel Osariemen, accusing him of plotting to impeach the council chairman, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, and his vice, Midwest Ogbebor. Hon. Chuks Isan was named as the new Leader of the House. Meanwhile, Osariemen allegedly stormed the council secretariat in Abudu with unknown individuals, declaring himself the acting chairman of the council.
The Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, also condemned his impeachment, describing the process as unconstitutional and riddled with irregularities. Addressing journalists in Benin City on Thursday, Okodo-Kadiri cited the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (as amended in 2002), which he argued was violated in his removal.
“The law requires the establishment of a seven-member investigative panel before impeachment proceedings can commence,” Okodo-Kadiri said. “This process was not followed, and the mace used during the impeachment was not the official mace of the council.”
He further refuted allegations by the state governor that local government chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries. “These claims lack merit. Monthly salary expenditures exceed ₦50 million in most councils, and all salaries were paid up to November,” he said.
Okodo-Kadiri also pointed out that two councillors who participated in his impeachment had been suspended for gross misconduct. “Their involvement renders the entire process null and void. The law requires that I be formally notified of any reinstatement, which never happened.”
Amid the chaos, the Chief Press Secretary to the Orhionmwon LGA Chairman, Roy Osariemen, issued a statement declaring the actions in Abudu illegal, asserting that Newman Ugiagbe remains the legitimate chairman.
The escalating tensions across local governments in Edo State highlight a deepening political crisis. Stakeholders and observers have called for calm and adherence to the rule of law to restore stability in the councils. Many now look to the courts to resolve the controversies and determine the legitimacy of the various impeachments.
