Edo elected councilors get certificates of return amidst fears of resignation, impeachment

By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – DESPITE protests successful immoderate quarters, the 63 elected councillors in the Edo by-election conducted by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) past Saturday, connected Monday received their Certificates of Return arsenic fears of impeachment, resignation and suspension of the existent Acting Chairman loom implicit immoderate councils.

The predetermination was conducted past Saturday contempt protests from the absorption Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which obtained an bid suspending the election.

But the EDSIEC successful a property connection said the bid was granted without affording it to beryllium heard and that it has taken steps done its ineligible representatives to record a question connected announcement “seeking to discharge the exparte bid and guarantee accelerated proceeding of the substantive suit.”

As aboriginal arsenic 7 am, the elected councilors were already astatine the bureau of EDSIEC situated on Airport Road Benin City wherever the Chairman, Hon Jonathan Aifuobhokhan represented by Hon (Dr) Ikhuoriah Solomon urged them to springiness due practice to the people.

He said “The palmy behaviour of the 2025 by-election is not lone a testament to the Commission’s ratio but besides a reaffirmation of the people’s spot successful the antiauthoritarian process. Today, arsenic we observe the victors of that process, we are besides reminded of the important roles they are stepping into to serve, to lead, and to bring meaningful improvement to their assorted wards.

“To our elected Councilors, congratulations erstwhile again. Your triumph astatine the polls reflects the assurance your radical person successful your quality to correspond them. May this Certificate of Return not conscionable beryllium a awesome of success, but a telephone to action.”

Shortly after, reports successful immoderate section authorities areas indicated that immoderate of the acting chairmen person been served impeachment notices portion that of Esan West, Godsent Agboibo has resigned.

In Etsako East section authorities area, the Acting Chairman, Solomon Oghuma called connected the authorities governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo to halt the determination arsenic helium alleged that it was being done to origin chaos successful the party.

He said “I was told that I should resign and that if I don’t resign, they volition usage the councilors to region me.

“I person enquired from the House of Assembly and they said they did not springiness immoderate specified directive and I cognize it is the location of assembly and the politician that person specified powers.”

Also reacting to the development, a erstwhile Edo North Senatorial Youth person of the APC Dirisu Otinomo said the improvement could pb to situation successful the APC “because the radical of Etsako East are not blessed due to the fact that idiosyncratic who is not from Etsako East is not the 1 that volition foist a president of the section authorities and if attraction is not taken, it could origin situation successful the council, truthful I americium calling connected the bid loving politician of the authorities to halt this move.”

As astatine the clip of filing this report, It was gathered that an impeachment announcement has besides been served connected the president of Uhunmwonde section authorities area.

The station Edo elected councilors get certificates of instrumentality amidst fears of resignation, impeachment appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.