Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has presented brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to 17 acting local government chairmen, three months after they switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
These council heads, originally legislative leaders, assumed office as acting chairmen after spearheading the impeachment of their respective elected chairmen and deputies. The shake-up came in the wake of a suspension order issued by the Edo State House of Assembly in December 2024, which affected all 18 elected council executives.
The suspension, prompted by a petition from Governor Okpebholo and dated November 16, 2024, accused the officials of gross misconduct and defiance, particularly over their refusal to provide financial records for review.
Before the two-month suspension lapsed, the legislative arms of the councils moved swiftly to unseat the incumbents, installing themselves as acting leaders. By March 17, 2025, these 17 newly positioned acting chairmen formally joined the APC.
Now, in what appears to be a gesture of support and empowerment, Governor Okpebholo has handed over new SUVs to them. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, he emphasized that the vehicles are tools for grassroots governance and not for personal luxury.
“I thank God for this day as we hand over these vehicles to support effective administration in our councils. These are official cars meant to drive development at the grassroots, not personal property,” Okpebholo stated.
He added, “Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State is embracing a new era of progress. We intend to compete with Lagos, Abuja, and other states in terms of development. I will be monitoring your performance closely to ensure these resources are used appropriately.”
The governor further assured that local council allocations have remained untouched by the state government, and urged the acting chairmen to demonstrate transparency and accountability in handling public funds.
Lucky Eseigbe, Commissioner for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, described the move as a remarkable milestone. “This marks the first time in the history of Edo State that local government chairmen are being provided with brand new SUVs,” he said.
According to Eseigbe, the initiative aims to enhance service delivery and improve administrative efficiency across local councils.
Meanwhile, Oredo Local Government remains the exception. Its elected chairman, Tom Obaseki, and his deputy were not impeached. However, the council’s operations are currently overseen by the Head of Local Government Administration, Dr. Igbinigie Osaheni.
