The Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in Edo State, Alabi Oshionogue, has been impeached by seven of the 10 councillors of the council.
The impeachment was announced in a letter signed on January 28, 2026.
It was gathered that the impeachment came just hours after efforts by the Edo State House of Assembly to hold a peace meeting with Oshionogue and the seven councillors failed.
Sources said the removal of the chairman followed attempts by three councillors, who did not attend the failed meeting, to remove the seven councillors. Their seats were subsequently declared vacant.
The seven councillors then rushed to Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government, where they issued the impeachment letter. The document read,
“We, the undersigned members of Akoko Edo Local Government Area Legislative Arm, hereby impeach you as the acting Local Government Council Chairman with effect from today, the 28th January, 2026.”
“This decision is as a result of your abuse of office, high-handedness, embezzlement of council funds, anti-party activities, financial recklessness, forgery and constant disobedience to constituted authorities.”
A video circulating online captured the moment Oshionogue was booed out of office.
In a telephone interview, the embattled chairman described the allegations against him as false and politically motivated.
He said, “I stand with the people and with Governor Monday Okpebholo, who is delivering people-oriented projects to the grassroots. I have refused to yield to intimidation or divert the commonwealth of the people to a few individuals who want to make money from the coffers.”
“We will continue to better the lives of our people. According to the Nigeria Constitution, there is a way to go about such an exercise. We have a constitutional relationship with the House of Assembly and the supervisory ministry who will decide on the matter.”
