Amid Protest, Umahi Swears In 13 LG Chairmen, 171 Councilors

Against concerns and mouthwatering allegations of irregularities around the process that produced them, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has sworn in the 13 newly ‘elected’ local government area chairmen and the 171 councilors who are all members of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The swearing-in which was performed by the governor at the Pa Ngele Orunta Township Stadium Abakaliki witnessed heavy presence of security personnel comprising the police, military and Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The local government ‘election’ was held on the 30th of July 2022.

The event which coincided with the flag off of the State government empowerment program also witnessed a large presence of party faithful who trooped out in their numbers to benefit in the empowerment programme.

Administering oath of office on the elected chairmen, governor Umahi said the exercise was done in obedience to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that the outgone chairmen were elected on a two-year term.

“Whatever we have done today is in conformity with the provisions of the law. Before the swearing in exercise, I sought the opinion of the State Attorney General of the state who maintained that we didn’t err in law and that’s why we are here today to swear in the council Chairmen”.

He said that the choice of the current elective positions in the local government area given to youths was to give the youths the opportunity to take charge of the affairs of the state.

Umahi disclosed that the state will by the middle of September organise a 3 million man-march for the candidates of the APC, adding that the state will massively vote for the APC in 2023.

Umahi who announced the empowerment of 3480 Ebonyi State indigenes said that the first batch of the beneficiaries would take home a minimum of N30000 per person adding that the second batch would be done in the next couple of weeks.

Earlier, the deputy governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, said that a total of N2.6 billion was earmarked by the federal government and the state government to interface with the youths of the state and for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.

He stated that the 3480 Ebonyi Indigenes who will benefit from the empowerment programme would receive their monies from the bank before the end of September.