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The political confrontation between the ward councillors of Onicha Local Government Area in Ebonyi State and the council chairman, Ogbofia Ikechukwu, has escalated due to an alleged plan for his impeachment.
One councillor, who requested anonymity for security reasons, revealed that tensions began when the council chairman started displaying authoritarian behavior, abusing his power, and showing political intolerance towards the councillors and other political figures in the local government.
The councillors listed several grievances against the council chairman, including feelings of irrelevance, exclusion from governance, breakdown in communication, misappropriation of palliative materials, favoritism, bias in electoral registration, and neglect of development projects.
Additional concerns included unfulfilled promises, deterioration of the legislative complex, unexecuted budget items, unpaid entitlements, absence of constituency projects, disrespect and humiliation, and inadequate welfare.
He stated, “It is regrettable and unfortunate that the chairman assigned ward mobilization responsibilities to his Special Assistants, leaving us powerless in our constituencies. Moreover, we are routinely overlooked during ward and community meetings.
“The chairman consistently refuses to answer or return calls, even in emergencies. Despite the governor's directives regarding Christmas rice distribution, the chairman grossly violated these orders, resulting in us and other communities receiving less than half of what was approved.
“Resources from the governor’s youth program (FON) have been disproportionately allocated to the chairman’s ward, Abaomege. This ward monopolizes registration buses while others are marginalized. For over a year, only the chairman’s ward has benefited from government projects, despite a ₦12 billion budget.
Repeated appeals for ward-level projects have yielded no results. The ₦100 million allocated for renovating the legislative chamber remains unaccounted for while the chamber is in disrepair.
“Despite the chairman's multiple promises to provide us with a legislative bus, none has been delivered, while he enjoys luxury vehicles. The proposed 3-bedroom bungalow projects for councillors in the 2025 budget remain untouched.
“Currently, we are owed five months of legislative votes (LV) stipends. It is also disheartening that no councillor has completed any infrastructure project, unlike their predecessors.
“We are often excluded from event committees and face embarrassment from the chairman’s aides. Our remuneration is minimal and irregular, with insufficient transport allowances even for official functions.
A political analyst and social critic, Ifeanyi Oguta, alleged that the twelve councillors recently convened and reached a unanimous decision to summon their political stakeholders and seek intervention.
He noted that upon learning of the councillors' plans, the chairman promptly called a meeting with them. They attended, hoping for relief, but it turned out to be a session of humiliation.
“The council boss boasted that he had the governor's ear and that nothing would happen to him. After reprimanding them like wayward schoolboys, he dismissed the councillors coldly, denying them the opportunity to express their grievances.
It has been reported that the councillors have officially submitted a petition against the chairman to the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and other key political stakeholders in the state, expressing their profound dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Hon. Ikechukwu Ogbofia, which was signed by 11 out of the 12 councillors.
In response to the crisis, the council chairman, Ogbofia Ikechukwu, spoke to journalists through the local government Public Relations Officer, Mr. Omekannaya Orogwu, and dismissed all allegations against him.
He asserted that the local government chairman has met all the councillors' needs, adding that the legislative building is nearly complete.
According to him, “The crisis is politically motivated, driven by those eyeing the local government seat as the council elections approach.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main grievances of the councillors against the council chairman?
The councillors have expressed concerns over issues such as exclusion from governance, communication breakdown, favoritism, neglect of development projects, and unfulfilled promises among others.
What was the response of the council chairman to the allegations?
The council chairman dismissed the allegations, claiming that he has fulfilled all the councillors' needs and that the legislative building is nearly complete. He also suggested that the crisis is politically motivated.
