Edo House Sacks 17 LGAs Chairmen, Ahead Of Election

By Ignatius Okpara, Benin City

The Edo state House of Assembly on Monday announced the sack of 17 out of the 18 Council Chairmen in the State.

Following the development, the House directed Heads of local government personnel management HPMs to take over the administration of the respective council areas, ahead of April 21, this year, when the tenure of the sacked chairmen will expire,

‪ Only the chairman of Esan North East Local Government Council, Mr. Sam Oboh, was not affected by the development, on the account that his tenure of office was yet to elapse as he emerged through a re-run election.

‪The lawmakers directives followed the presentation of a “Constitutional observation moved by. Mr SundayOsazemwinde, (APC Ovia North East 1) constituency and seconded by Mrs Ativie Elizabeth, APC Lawmaker, representing Uhunwode Constituency during their plenary.

‪Osazemwinde, who relied on the Local Government Law 2000 which allows for tenure of three years for chairmen of councils.

‪The lawmaker, quoted relevant sections of the law, including section 10(1) and 18(1) of the local government law 2000, that allows for three years tenure for chairmen of local government

‪“The State Independent Electoral Commission ( EDSIEC) is supposed to have conducted election within 90 days before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent chairmen.

‪Following the adoption of the resolution by the lawmakers, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, directed the affected Chairmen to hand over the administration of their councils to the heads of local government administration on or before April 21, 2016.

‪Also, the House also directed the chairman and members of the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to appear before it on April 19 to explain why the commission has not been able to conduct local government polls.