𝗘𝘀𝗲-𝗢𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹: 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱

𝗘𝘀𝗲-𝗢𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹: 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱

--𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑨𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑨𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆

𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀,

𝗢𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁,

24𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰. 2025.

 

Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State was on Wednesday thrown into a major political upheaval as the Legislative Council impeached its Leader, Rt. Hon. Elijah Jeremiah, and his Deputy, Hon. Perekeniboyegha Ofoetitan, in what observers have described as one of the most dramatic legislative showdowns in the council’s history.

NigerDelta Voice Reporters had gathered that, the impeachment followed an emergency sitting of the House that exposed deep cracks within the legislative arm, triggered by allegations that the impeached leadership unilaterally signed the 2025 Supplementary Budget without legislative scrutiny or approval, in clear violation of the Ondo State Local Government Laws, 2023 (as amended).

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝘁 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Tensions flared when Hon. Asetewu Bisinbofa, Councillor representing Arogbo Ward II, rose on the floor of the House and openly challenged the council leadership. In a bold and confrontational move, he demanded an explanation as to why the Leader allegedly acted alone, bypassing constitutionally required procedures of presentation, debate, and collective approval.

Backing the challenge, Hon. Afolabi Olanrewaju Stephen and Hon. Sunday Kowei echoed strong objections, insisting that the Legislative Council must not be reduced to a ceremonial rubber stamp. They stressed that any budgetary action taken without majority consent amounts to legislative betrayal and undermines democratic governance at the grassroots.

𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵

Following heated deliberations, Hon. Mrs. Feku Dighito, the Majority Leader of the Council, moved a motion for the immediate impeachment of both the Leader and his Deputy. She accused the duo of collusion, alleging that they jointly signed the controversial supplementary budget behind the backs of council members.

The motion further cited allegations of weaponized incompetence, gross misconduct, high-handedness, and abuse of office, charges that sent shockwaves through the chamber. The motion was seconded by Hon. Sunday Kowei, Councillor representing Arogbo Ward III, and was overwhelmingly adopted by members present.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱

In a swift reconfiguration of the council’s leadership, the House announced:

Hon. Afolabi Olanrewaju Stephen (Apoi Ward IV) as new Leader of the Legislative Council

Hon. Asetewu Bisinbofa (Arogbo Ward II) as Deputy Leader

The impeached Leader represents Apoi Ward II, while his Deputy represents Ukaparamu Ward I.

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The impeachment resolution was endorsed by the following lawmakers:

Hon. Mrs. Feku Dighito – Majority Leader (Arogbo Ward I)

Hon. Mrs. Ijiehin Olufunke I. – Deputy Majority Leader (Apoi Ward V)

Hon. Omolara Jide – Chief Whip (Apoi Ward I)

Hon. Asetewu Bisinbofa – Councillor (Arogbo Ward II)

Hon. Sunday Kowei – Councillor (Arogbo Ward III)

Hon. Afolabi Olanrewaju Stephen – Councillor (Apoi Ward IV)

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀

The dramatic impeachment has ignited intense political debate within Ese-Odo, with analysts warning that the crisis could widen if executive-legislative relations deteriorate further. However, proponents of the impeachment insist the action was necessary to restore transparency, legislative integrity, and the rule of law.

The Ese-Odo Legislative Arm, in a statement, on its Facebook handle maintained that no individual is above the law, declaring that the council will no longer tolerate unilateral decision-making disguised as leadership.