Edo State’s local government councils have been plunged into chaos, with three chairmen facing impeachment proceedings amid accusations of violence, unconstitutional actions, and political interference.

The affected councils — Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, and Owan East — are witnessing escalating tensions that threaten governance and stability.

In Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, tensions escalated on Tuesday when gunmen allegedly attacked bystanders, leaving several injured.

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

“The people who came to shoot were policemen from the Government House,” Adodo alleged.

The incident followed moves by councillors to impeach the local government leadership, intensifying concerns about safety and order in the area.

Leadership Dispute in Orhionmwon

In Orhionmwon Local Government Area, councillors impeached the Leader of the House, Hon. Daniel Osariemen, on Wednesday, replacing him with Hon. Chuks Isan.

The impeachment was reportedly an attempt to preempt a suspected plot by Osariemen to oust the council chairman, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, and his deputy, Midwest Ogbebor.

Osariemen later led a group of unidentified individuals to seize the council secretariat in Abudu, where he declared himself acting chairman.

Ugiagbe, in a statement issued by his press secretary, Roy Osariemen, dismissed the action as illegal.

“The action in Abudu is illegal. I remain the chairman of the Orhionmwon Local Government Area,” Ugiagbe asserted.

In Owan East, Chairman Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri has described his impeachment as unconstitutional and vowed to challenge the process in court.

Addressing journalists in Benin City on Thursday, Okodo-Kadiri outlined several irregularities, including the absence of a seven-member investigative panel as mandated by the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (amended in 2002).

He also alleged that the councillors used an unofficial mace during the impeachment and that two of the councillors who participated had been suspended for gross misconduct.

“The process violated the provisions of the law,” Okodo-Kadiri said. “The governor alleged that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, but this claim lacks merit. Monthly salary expenditures far exceed ₦50 million, and salaries were paid up to November. If funds were misappropriated, where is the proof? Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed.”

Okodo-Kadiri further criticized the lack of due process in reinstating the suspended councillors. “Their participation rendered the proceedings invalid. My office was never notified of their reinstatement,” he added.

The embattled chairman vowed to seek redress through the judiciary. “I trust the courts to restore justice and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

Below is the full text of the pact that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti tabled before the citizens in his 2025 new year message, as vented on his verified socials.

“NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Being the Text of a New Year Broadcast by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, on January 1, 2025

“1. Ndi Abia ibe m, I bring you warm and joyful greetings. I have come with a deep sense of our collective gratitude to the Almighty God for the blessing and privilege of waking up to another New Year. Let me join families, friends and well-wishers in welcoming all of us to the great promises of 2025. Happy New Year, umunne m.

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“2. This is the beginning of another phase of a long journey to find meaning in our individual lives and contribute meaningfully to the long-term growth of our society. Our pursuits may be different but the goals are often not too far apart: we want to live in fulfilment by applying our talents and abilities to useful endeavours, chase our dreams, pursue worthy causes and one day, when our race is done, look back in gratitude for the opportunities we had and the overall impact made within our spheres of influence.

“3. Things may not go exactly as we wish but even then, we have a responsibility to step out with hope, doing our best each day to pursue the outcomes we seek for ourselves and our loved ones. Hope must override despair and nothing should distract us from giving our all to achieve the goals that we have carefully laid out in the weeks and days leading to this remarkable day. I do not possess the power to predict the future but I know one thing for sure: victory ultimately goes to the one who never gave up.

“4. As a government, our job in the New Year will be to build systems and structures to support your dreams and offer you the institutional leverage to thrive and contribute to our shared aspiration of building a better society. With sincerity and commitment as our guiding principles, we have strived to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people, honouring the faith they have placed in us.

“5. We are practically in a hurry to rebuild our State and realign governance priorities to reflect the true aspirations of the people. We have since evolved a system that prioritises the needs of the downtrodden by paying attention, listening carefully and channelling public resources to where they yield the highest social and economic dividends to the majority.

“6. By taking on very difficult but economically and socially significant projects in road infrastructure development, health and education, waste management and environmental recoveries, we have demonstrated that no obstacle can be too difficult to surmount when there is the sincere will to get things done. Many of the impact-making projects in our urban and rural communities are now nearing completion. Others are also being developed at a pace that leaves no doubt about the determination of the government to complete and add them to the stock of public infrastructure in the State. You will find evidence of our commitment to the restoration and upgrade of long-abandoned public infrastructure across the State at the Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard in Umuahia, Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Obohia and Ohanku Roads, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Omenuko Bridge and several others that only served as tools of electioneering deceit before now. What makes us different as an administration is that we are driven by a genuine sense of service and an obligation to work for the people. Our pursuit is beyond political glory because we appreciate that humanity comes before politics.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to request the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to publish your assets and encourage your Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and the leadership of the National Assembly, state governors, as well as the chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local governments to also request the CCB to publish their assets.”

The president had during his first Presidential Media Chat last Monday reportedly said, “I will consider asking the CCB to release my assets.”

In the letter dated 28 December 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We welcome your reported decision to consider asking the CCB to publish your assets as a significant development, and a signal of your intent, willingness, and commitment to show leadership on this important matter of public interest.”

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The SERAP said, “But your ‘consideration’ would ‘carry more weight’ if you were to promptly translate the intent into action by asking the CCB to publish your assets and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, leadership of the National Assembly and state governors, as well as the chairmen of local governments to do the same.”

According to the SERAP, “Secrecy in the assets declared by high-ranking public officials to the CCB continues to facilitate corruption at all levels of government, especially in the country’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and federal ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs], as well as local governments.”

The SERAP also said, “Secrecy in asset declaration forms also provides the biggest opportunities for the abuse of public money for private gain. Acting as recommended would reduce the opportunities for corruption at all levels of government.”

The letter, read in part: “However, transparency and accountability in the states and local governments won’t happen without you pushing for the immediate and effective implementation of the Supreme Court decision of 11 July 2024, stopping state governors from taking over local government funds.”

“Asking the CCB to publish your assets and encouraging your Vice-President, ministers, the leadership of the National Assembly and state governors, as well as the chairmen of local governments to also ask the CCB to publish their assets would promote and ensure the public trust, transparency and accountability.”

“Transparency and openness would also increase public confidence in the integrity of high-ranking public officials and government generally, and ensure that political authorities are honest when they provide services to the people.”

“Despite the Supreme Court decision, several state governors reportedly continue to take over local government funds.”

“Your intent, willingness and expressed commitment to promote transparency in asset declarations should include prioritising the immediate and effective implementation of the Supreme Court judgment and holding state governors to account for contempt of court, as they continue to blatantly disobey the judgment.”

“The immediate and effective implementation of the Supreme Court judgment is the best antidote for reducing cases of state-level corruption and would contribute to addressing the allegations of diversion of local government funds needed for vital public services.”

“Corruption continues to directly affect the lives and well-being of millions of Nigerians in several states, and to erode public trust in public institutions.”

“Corruption is one the greatest challenges to improving the country’s democracy and rebuilding a transparent, accountable and participatory system of governance. One way that corrupt politicians in the country have perpetuated corrupt practices is through hiding assets.”

“There are widespread reports of corruption in several states of the federation, and federal ministries, agencies and departments [MDAs].”

“The best measure of a country’s progress toward transparency and accountability is a total obedience to the rule of law.  The law ought to command the highest levels of respect by for example, the state governors immediately obeying the Supreme Court judgment and stop collecting and taking over local government funds.”

“Nigeria’s democracy ought to have as its foundation transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law at all levels of government.”

“Treating the Supreme Court judgment with contempt is antithetical to any contemporary notion of the rule of law and democracy, and counter-productive to any efforts to hold state governors to account for their alleged misuse of public funds.”

“The Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] acknowledges the importance of citizens’ access to the details of assets filed with the CCB by public officers, as contained in Paragraph 3 (c) of Part 1 of its Third Schedule.”

“According to the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, contained in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution, all public officers are to declare their assets.”

“Paragraph 11(1)(a)(b) of the Fifth Schedule provides that every public officer shall immediately after taking office and thereafter (a) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his/her term of office, submit to the CCB a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.”

“Section 15(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Tribunal Act also requires all public officers to declare their assets.”

“Article 7(1) of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and articles 7(4) and 8(5) of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party contain similar provisions and requirements for public officials to declare their assets before, during, and after serving in public office.”

“The Nigerian Constitution and the anticorruption and human rights treaties show the significant role that asset declaration by public officials plays in promoting transparency, accountability and preventing and combating corruption in the public service.”

“Section 109 of the Evidence Act defines a public document to include documents forming the acts or records of the acts of public officers. Asset declaration forms kept with the Code of Conduct Bureau therefore qualify as public documents under section 109.”

“We hope that these recommendations will help guide your steps in taking the necessary action to ask the CCB to publish your assets and to encourage your vice-president, ministers, the leadership of the National Assembly, state governors and chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local governments to do the same.”