Ihedioha suspends 27 council chairmen, 604 councillors, others

Dissolves ISIEC, statutory boards, agencies

Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has approved suspension of chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and political appointees of the 27 councils of the state.He directed the suspended elected officials to hand over government property in their possession to the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS) of their various councils.

In a statement yesterday signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Chibuike Onyeukwu, the governor also approved the constitution of interim management committees for the initial period of six months.

The council bosses and the 604 councillors, largely members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were elected last year for a three-year tenure during the administration of the immediate past governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Also, the governor directed the dissolution and removal of the members of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).The exited 8th House of Assembly had resolved and communicated to the governor to take the action at the twilight of their tenure.

The statement read: “Governor Emeka Ihedioha has approved the suspension of chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors and political appointees of the local governments of Imo State and constitution of interim management committees for six months.”According to the statement, the action of the governor was derived from the relevant sections of the local government administration law.

“The suspension is contained in the instrument signed by the governor, pursuant to the recommendation made to him by the Imo State House of Assembly.“This is pursuant also to the provisions of Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2019 and S.73(3) of Imo State Local Government Administration Law No 15 of 2000 (as amended) and all other laws enabling him.

“The governor has set up interim management committees to manage the affairs of each local government.“Consequently, the Directors of Administration and General Services (DAGS) of each local government have been directed to take over management, pending the confirmation of interim management committees by the state assembly.”