Edo Assembly suspends LG chairmen over Okpebholo’s petition

By Christiana Ekpa

The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all the 18 elected local government council chairmen in the state for alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.
The House directed leaders of the legislature in the 18 local governments to oversee the running of the councils for the next two months.
Peoples Daily reports that the House suspended the council executives at plenary yesterday following a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In the petition, the Governor accused the LG chairmen of refusing to submit financial accounts of their local government to the state government.
The Governor who described the action of the LG chairmen as insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
The Motion for the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was moved by Mr. Isibor Addeh, an APC member representing Esan North-East I.
It was seconded by Donald Okogbe, PDP, representing Akoko-Edo II.
At the end of the debate, 14 members voted in support of the suspension, six opposed while three members abstained.
Peoples Daily recalled that 18 Local government Chairmen and 192 councillors were elected on September 2, 2023.
Okpebholo had on December 3, 2024, given the LG chairmen 48 hours to submit statements of account of their respective councils to the Assets Verification Committee.
Okpebholo directed the council chairmen to submit the statements to the Assets Verification Committee, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.
He said the statement of accounts should be from September 4, 2023 till date. According to him, the statements would help and enable the Assets Verification Committee to do its job effectively and efficiently.
The 24-member Edo House of Assembly is dominated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.