Armed Thugs Prevent Edo LG Chairman’s Entry into Office

On Monday, December 23, suspected political thugs reportedly took over the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat in Edo State.

The thugs are said to have barred the Local Government (LG) Chairman, Tom Obaseki, from entering his office.

Obaseki had to flee the scene as the thugs, all armed with weapons, occupied the secretariat, chanting and singing.

“I came here to continue my work as the elected chairman of Oredo Local Government. I met a whole lot of thugs who have already overtaken the council.

“This is a very disturbing trend. We are calling on the security agencies to arrest the situation. What is important is that we have a restraining order,” Obaseki said to newsmen afterward.

Earlier, 18 council chairmen (including Obaseki) and their deputies were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly after the state Governor, Monday Okpebholo, submitted a petition against them, alleging insubordination on their part.

The suspension was short-lived, however, as a High Court sitting in Edo State nullified it along with the suspension of the other 17 council chairmen in a Friday ruling.

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