EDO: LG chairman points at gov, as impeachments, violence fuel political chaos in councils

The political turmoil in Edo State’s local government councils escalated into violence on Thursday as gunmen stormed the Uhunmwode Local Government Council headquarters in Egor, leaving several people wounded.

The council chairman, Kenneth Adodo, accused the attackers of being policemen allegedly deployed from the Edo State Government House.

This incident comes amidst a wave of impeachment controversies that have rocked the state. On Wednesday, councillors in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local governments moved to impeach their respective chairmen, sparking widespread unrest.

In Orhionmwon, the councillors replaced the Leader of the House, Hon. Daniel Osariemen, with Hon. Chuks Isan, accusing Osariemen of conspiring to oust Chairman Newman Ugiagbe and his deputy, Midwest Ogbebor. Osariemen, however, retaliated by allegedly seizing control of the council secretariat in Abudu, where he declared himself acting chairman.

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The chairman’s office, through Chief Press Secretary Roy Osariemen, dismissed the takeover as illegal, reaffirming Newman Ugiagbe’s position as the legitimate leader of Orhionmwon.

Meanwhile, in Owan East Local Government, Chairman Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri vehemently rejected his impeachment, labeling the process unconstitutional.

Addressing reporters in Benin City, Okodo-Kadiri cited breaches of the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (amended in 2002), which mandates the establishment of a seven-member investigative panel before any removal can be deemed lawful.

“The impeachment process was riddled with irregularities,” Okodo-Kadiri stated. “The mace used was not the official mace of the Owan East Local Government Council. Furthermore, two suspended councillors—Hon. Haruna Mohammed and a member from Ward Seven—illegally participated in the process.”

He also dismissed allegations by Governor Godwin Obaseki that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million earmarked for salaries. “The claim lacks merit. Monthly salaries far exceed ₦50 million in most councils, and all salaries were paid up to November. Bank records prove this, and no salaries are owed,” he argued.

Okodo-Kadiri expressed confidence in the judiciary, vowing to challenge the impeachment proceedings in court. “This illegality will not stand. We trust the courts to uphold the law and restore justice,” he said.

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