Edo Assembly Suspends Local Council Chairpersons

The Edo House of Assembly has passed a resolution suspending the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the 18 local governments in the state for two months due to allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct.

During a plenary session on Tuesday, the House appointed the leaders of the legislative arms within the local governments to assume leadership of their respective councils during the suspension period.

This action followed a petition from Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, who raised concerns about the chairpersons’ refusal to submit their financial records as directed.

On December 3, Governor Okpebholo had given the council chairpersons 48 hours to submit their statements of account from September 2023 to the present to the Edo State Assets Verification Committee. In his letter to the assembly, the governor described the chairpersons’ actions as insubordination and gross misconduct, requesting that the House investigate the matter.

The motion for the suspension of the chairpersons and vice chairpersons was moved by Isibor Adeh (APC Esan North East 1) and seconded by Donald Okogbe (PDP Akoko-Edo 11). Following a debate, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku called for a vote on the motion.

Out of the members present, fourteen supported the suspension, six opposed it, and three chose not to participate in the voting.