In a swift development, the acting chairmen of 18 local government areas in Edo State, Nigeria, have been replaced by newly elected councillors from the All Progressives Congress (APC). This change occurred barely 48 hours after the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) conducted by-elections into 59 wards.
The acting chairmen, who were initially elected as councillors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on September 2, 2023, had taken over the helm of their respective local governments following the suspension of the elected chairmen and their deputies by the House of Assembly in December 2024. Notably, 17 out of the 18 council members defected from the PDP to the APC, with only Oredo Local Government Area’s legislative arm remaining loyal to the PDP.
According to reports, the acting chairmen were compelled to resign after the presentation of Certificates of Return to the elected APC councillors, paving the way for the new office holders. The list of resigned acting chairmen includes Solomon Oghuma Emmanuel (Etsako East), Hon Obosa Jolly (Ikpoba Okha), and Hon Godsent Agboibo (Esan West), among others.
The acting chairmen of Ikpoba Okha and Uhunmwode local governments have been replaced by Sino Eric Osawaru and Augustine Imafidon, respectively. This sudden change in leadership is a significant development in Edo State’s local government administration. The replacement of the acting chairmen with newly elected APC councillors is expected to have implications for the governance and administration of the affected local government areas.
The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission’s conduct of the by-elections and the subsequent replacement of the acting chairmen highlight the dynamic nature of Nigerian politics. The APC’s gain in the local government areas may have significant implications for the state’s political landscape. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the new leadership will impact the governance and development of the affected areas.
