By DADA AYOKHAI
AGENEBODE– The Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Sunny Ekperika, recently directed his Vice Chairman to swear in the newly elected councillors in Agenebode, the council’s administrative headquarters,
The directive comes days after the chairman came under criticism for allegedly inaugurating the councillors in Benin City instead of Agenebode.
The action was said to have drawn the attention of the state government and APC leaders in the state.
Sources said the chairman was asked to correct the anomaly to align with due process and local government law.
To address the issue, Ekperika directed his deputy to perform the constitutional duty of inaugurating the councillors on Tuesday, September 8th in Agenebode.,the last held inauguration in the state,
Chairman Denies Hotel Swearing-In
In an interview with an online tabloid, the chairman dismissed as false a viral report alleging that he swore in councillors at a hotel in Benin City.
He described the claim as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
According to him, he was in Benin City in his capacity as Edo State Chairman of ALGON hence he invited the councillors to meet with him for an address ,
“I simply called my councillors to address them,” he said.
Critics Fault Chairman’s Explanation
The explanation, however, was faulted by some stakeholders who argued that the constitutional duty of swearing in councillors is sacrosanct at Agenebode not an address in Benin,
They also questioned the chairman’s reference to ALGON duties, asking which takes precedence: his constitutional responsibility to the council or his role in the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.
Some critics further claimed that his first term as council chairman, along with his ALGON duties, ended on September 3rd,
