Our reporter
The political landscape in Egor Local Government Council, Edo State, has been thrown into turmoil following the impeachment of Chairman Eghe Ogbemudia and Vice Chairman Frank Osawe.
Fear has reportedly taken hold among suspended Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen in Edo as the legislative council intensifies its scrutiny of leadership misconduct.
Eghe Ogbemudia, a member of the prominent Ogbemudia family, and her vice Chairman were removed from office after a seven-member panel found them guilty of four allegations of gross misconduct. These included abuse of office, financial misappropriation, withholding statutory allowances of council members, and budget padding.
The impeachment proceedings were formally documented in the Edo State Government Gazette, citing the Edo LG Bye-law on Impeachment Procedures for Elected Council Officials, 2024.
In a dramatic shift, the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Kelvin Eguakun, has been sworn in as the acting Chairman. Eguakun, who received unanimous support from the councillors during plenary on Friday, December 27, 2024, assumed office after the council clerk officiated the swearing-in ceremony at 1:35 pm.
The impeachment motion was initiated by Nosakhare Isiegbuwa and seconded by Stella Ogida Osagioduwa, following concerns over the council’s delayed salaries and alleged mismanagement. Councillors pointed to a politically motivated two-month delay in their pay as evidence of coercion by the former leadership.
Further escalating the crisis, the legislative council also suspended its former leaders, including Hon. Bosede Omokaro (Leader), Iwinosa Enabulele (Majority Leader), and Elliot Inneh Enni (Chief Whip). The suspension, endorsed by five of the council’s six members, paved the way for a new leadership under Eguakun to act decisively on the mounting allegations against the Chairman and vice chairman.
This upheaval in Egor LGA reflects a broader effort to address misconduct within Edo State’s local councils, dominated by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The impeachment process highlights the growing tension between legislative arms and executive council leadership, as accusations of neglect and poor collaboration continue to surface.
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