Edo LGs in Flux: impeachments, resignations, and swift transitions mark day of dramatic change

Benin, Edo – On Monday marks a seismic shift in Edo's local governance landscape, as a cascade of resignations, unanimous impeachments, and rapid endorsements reshapes leadership across four key Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Amid the broader turbulence gripping the state's 18 councils—fueled by transitions under Governor Monday Okpebholo's APC administration—these moves signal a push for alignment, unity, and renewed focus on development.

While some transitions unfolded amicably, others carried echoes of the factional clashes that have defined Edo's LG politics since early 2025.

In Uhunmwode LGA, Acting Chairman Hon. Benjamin Osas Iredia has been unanimously impeached by the full legislative council.

The vote, executed by all nine councillors during an emergency session at the Ekiadolor secretariat, cites "irregularities in financial management and failure to align with state priorities" as grounds for removal.

Iredia, who earlier this year championed the Uhunmwode Economic Summit to combat the area's reputation as Edo's "least developed" LGA, expressed disappointment but pledged loyalty to the APC.

"This is not the end of my service to Uhunmwode," he stated in a brief address to supporters. No successor has been named yet, but insiders point to a replacement from the councilors as a likely interim leader, with full elections eyed for quarter one 2026.

The impeachment adds to Uhunmwode's recent woes, including a January 2025 suspension tied to alleged N12 billion remittances to PDP leaders under the prior regime.

Shifting to Orhionmwon LGA, the transition was a study in voluntary grace. Hon. Daniel Osariemen, the council chairman, announced his resignation effective immediately, framing it as a selfless step to refocus on his legislative roots as Councillor for Igbanke West Ward 12.

"Thanks to our leaders for the opportunity to serve," Osariemen said in his letter dated today, addin, "I remain committed to Orhionmwon's progress from the floor of the council."

This amicable exit—contrasting earlier January impeachments in the LGA, where Osariemen himself faced ouster as House Leader—paves the way for Hon. Thompson Osagie to step in as the new chairman.

Daily South Nigeria understands that Osagie's ascension has already drawn a chorus of endorsements from APC heavyweights, including LGA leader and Edo NDDC Rep Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, Party Chair Mr. Julius Agbonze, and EDSOGPADEC Chair Mr. Francis Osabuohien.

"This unity is our strength," Aisowieren declared at a solidarity rally in Abudu.

With this backing, Osagie is primed to advance priorities like the electricity situation bedeviling Abudu and other Orhionmwon communities, and agricultural boosts in the "Food Basket of Edo," home to over 200,000 residents.

In Oredo LGA—Edo's economic powerhouse and Benin City's bustling core—stability reigns with the unanimous endorsement of Ward 7 Councillor Hon. Gabriel Iduseri as the new council chairman. Iduseri, a seasoned APC stalwart and former collation agent during the 2024 governorship polls, was backed by all legislative members in a swift, drama-free vote.

Replacing the suspended Tom Obaseki, whose December 2024 ouster stemmed from office access disputes involving alleged thugs, Iduseri inherits a mandate to tackle urban challenges: enhancing security in markets like Oba and New Benin, expanding sanitation drives amid July 2025 harassment reports, and leveraging Oredo's N12 billion-plus revenue streams for infrastructure.

"Oredo's wealth is in its people—together, we'll build on that," Iduseri affirmed post-endorsement.

As the LGA encompassing the Oba of Benin's palace and the Esama's domain, this move is seen as a stabilizing force in a ward known for its cultural and electoral heft.

Finally, Ikpoba-Okha LGA joins the fray with a clean handover: Outgoing Chairman Hon. Jolly Obosa tendered his resignation, making way for Ward 10 Councillor Hon. Sino Osawaru to emerge as the new leader.

Obosa's letter, echoing Osariemen's tone, thanked Governor Okpebholo and constituents for "the honor of service," effective September 22, 2025.

Osawaru, a familiar name in Ikpoba-Okha politics—linked to assembly oversight on projects like the rebuilt Idogbo Police Station—vowed to prioritize limestone-rich area's growth: rehabilitating farm-to-market roads, boosting health clinics, and curbing youth restiveness.

This LGA has long been a flashpoint for party defections, but today's shift appears consensus-driven.

Analysts attribute the flurry to APC's post-election consolidation, aiming to sideline holdovers from the Obaseki era amid allegations of fiscal misconduct.

Governor Okpebholo's office hailed the "orderly realignments" as steps toward "transparent, people-centered governance," while opposition PDP decried them as "orchestrated purges."