In a dramatic turn of events, the Edo State House of Assembly has suspended the chairmen and vice-chairmen of all 18 local governments in the state for a period of two months. This decision was made in response to allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct.
The suspension came after a petition was submitted by Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, accusing the local government leaders of failing to comply with an order to submit their financial records.
At the plenary session on Tuesday, the members of the House of Assembly passed a resolution that also mandated the legislative leaders of each local government to temporarily take over the leadership of their respective councils.
The suspension follows a highly contentious situation that started on December 3, 2024, when Governor Okpebholo ordered the local government chairmen to submit their financial records from September 2023 to the present. This directive was made to ensure transparency and accountability within the local governments.
Governor Okpebholo expressed his disappointment with the chairmen, accusing them of insubordination and misconduct for not adhering to the directive. In a formal letter to the House of Assembly, he requested that the matter be investigated.
“This refusal to submit financial records undermines the trust placed in them by the people and violates their duty to serve with integrity,” Governor Okpebholo stated in the letter.
The motion for suspension was introduced by Mr. Isibor Adeh, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Esan North East 1. It was seconded by Mr. Donald Okogbe, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Akoko-Edo II.
Following a heated debate, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, called for a vote on the motion. Out of the 23 members present, 14 supported the motion for suspension, six voted against it, and three members abstained from voting.
“I have never seen a situation where elected officials disregard a lawful order to submit financial records. This is gross misconduct that cannot be ignored,” said Mr. Adeh, justifying his motion. “The suspension is necessary to maintain the integrity of our local government system.”
On the other hand, members who opposed the motion expressed concerns about the potential disruption this suspension could cause at the local government level. “While I do not condone misconduct, the suspension of these chairmen might lead to administrative challenges in their local councils,” said one dissenting member.
The decision has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, with many speculating about the long-term effects on the local government structure. Some have praised the Assembly for taking decisive action to enforce accountability, while others have criticized the move as a political maneuver.
As a result of the suspension, the leadership of the local governments will temporarily be in the hands of the legislative arms in each council. These legislative leaders will oversee the day-to-day operations until the suspension period is over.
Edo State, under Governor Okpebholo, has been working to improve transparency in governance, with a strong focus on accountability in the management of public funds. This incident has raised questions about the level of cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of the state government, especially in matters of financial oversight.
“I will continue to push for greater transparency and financial accountability in the local governments. This is just the beginning of the reform process,” Governor Okpebholo remarked in a brief statement following the Assembly’s decision.
