.jpeg)
By Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER - The political crisis in Edo State deepened on Wednesday with the impeachment of two local government chairmen in Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon by their respective councillors. Meanwhile, the chairman of Owan East Local Government Area, Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, rejected his purported impeachment as unconstitutional and illegal, signaling further discord.
In Uhunmwonde Local Government, the impeachment of Chairman Kenneth Adodo took a violent turn as gunmen allegedly attacked bystanders, leaving several injured. Adodo accused the gunmen of being policemen from the government house, adding a layer of tension to the already volatile situation.
In Orhionmwon Local Government, councillors impeached the Leader of the House, Daniel Osariemen, accusing him of plotting to unseat Chairman Newman Ugiagbe and Deputy Chairman Midwest Ogbebor. Osariemen, however, led a faction to seize the council secretariat in Abudu, claiming the role of acting chairman.
Through his Press Secretary Roy Osariemen, Chairman Ugiagbe dismissed the takeover as illegal, reaffirming his position as the duly elected chairman. “The action that took place in the secretariat in Abudu is illegal, and Ugiagbe remains the duly elected chairman,” the statement read.
In Owan East Local Government, Chairman Aminu Okodo-Kadiri described his impeachment and that of his deputy, Clement Ojebuovbo, as politically motivated and procedurally flawed.
Okodo-Kadiri pointed to the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (amended in 2002), which outlines specific impeachment procedures, including presenting signed allegations, setting up an independent investigative panel, and following due timelines. He argued that none of these steps were adhered to.
“The impeachment processes violated the law. None of the stipulated procedures were followed,” Okodo-Kadiri told journalists in Benin.
He also claimed that the councillors failed to establish the required seven-member investigative panel and that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself. Furthermore, he questioned the legitimacy of the mace used during the impeachment, asserting it was not the official mace of the council.
Okodo-Kadiri refuted allegations of embezzling ₦50 million meant for salaries, stating that the council’s monthly salary expenditure exceeded ₦50 million and that all salaries were paid up to November.
“There is an allegation that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, but this claim lacks merit. Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed,” he explained.
He also revealed that two councillors involved in the impeachment process had been suspended for gross misconduct, rendering the process invalid.
Okodo-Kadiri vowed to challenge the impeachment in court, expressing confidence in the judiciary to restore his position and uphold the rule of law.
“This suspension and impeachment are baseless and unconstitutional. I will rely on the judiciary to restore justice and uphold the rule of law in this matter,” he declared.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.
These developments underscore the growing political unrest in Edo State’s local government areas, with accusations of irregularities, corruption, and power struggles dominating the discourse. As the crisis unfolds, stakeholders and the judiciary will play pivotal roles in resolving the conflicts and restoring order.
