Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State on Tuesday suspended all the 27 Local Government Area Chairmen, their deputies and the 645 councillors in the state.
He also announced the suspension of all political appointees of the LGAs.
The governor’s action was disclosed via a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, in Owerri, the state capital.
Furthermore, the statement also announced that the governor has approved the dissolution and removal of Chairman and Members of the State’s Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC.
The statement noted that in suspending the LGA Officers, the governor acted pursuant 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.
It further noted that the governor had set up Interim management Committees in all the LGAs of the state, though the Directors of Administration and General Services of each LGA were to act until the Interim Committees received confirmation from the state lawmakers.
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.
“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.
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“This is in 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.
“In a similar development, the Governor approved the dissolution and removal of the chairman and members of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC).
“This is following a resolution supported by a two-thirds’ majority of the State Assembly rendered on 6th June 2019, seeking their removal from office. The action is also in accordance with the provisions of S.7(1) of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission Law and all other extant laws of the State.
“The Commission will be reconstituted in due course to put in place the machinery for conducting a credible election into the local governments.
“The Governor further directs that these officers handover to the most senior civil servant in the Commission.”
