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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Councillors from the Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State have passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman of the council, Hon. Inibehe Umah, over his inability to render income and expenditure accounts to the legislative arm as provided by local government bye-laws.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo, the leader of the council, Hon. Donald Usoroh, said eight out of 11 councillors have passed a unanimous vote of no confidence against the chairman for his refusal to render accounts and for allegedly using thugs to disrupt the legislative proceedings of the council.
The eight councillors, who arrived at the venue of the briefing limping, said thugs invaded their plenary session and dealt several blows to them while they scampered for safety.
The councillors also accused the chairman of a lack of accountability, openness and abuse of office since he assumed power in October 2024.
They alleged that the chairman runs the local government council alone as his personal estate, stating, “He only functions on the pages of social media, Facebook, WhatsApp; if you come to Ini, nothing is happening.”
The leader of the Ini Legislative Council, Mr Donald Usoroh, narrated their ordeal to journalists in Uyo, saying the chairman invaded the plenary with over 100 thugs.
Usoroh, who was surrounded by seven other councillors out of the 11, said they were thoroughly assaulted and beaten by the hoodlums.
According to him, they had presented a letter of invitation to the chairman to brief the legislative council on the Ini LGA income and expenditure as part of their oversight functions, as enshrined in Section 28, Subsections C and F of the council bye-laws.
“Today is a sad day for democracy in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and for the legislators across Nigeria.
“Here with me is the byelaw enacted by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
“We have here functions and powers of the legislative council. Section 28 and subsection C say that the legislator is mandated to examine and debate the monthly statement of income and expenditure tendered by the Chairman of the Local Government Council.
“Section F says they also have the power to exercise such oversight functions as may enhance the smooth running of the council.
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“Sadly, in Ini Local Government, since we came on board on Oct. 9, 2024, the local government chairman, Mr Inibehe Umah, has refused us to exercise these legislative powers.
“So, on June 2, 2026, we tried exercising these powers as enshrined in these administrative laws.
“We wrote to the chairman, through the clerk, inviting him to come and present to us the income and expenditure for the period of one year.
“Sadly, when we went there today for our plenary, which we usually have every Tuesday, the Chairman, Mr Inibehe Umah, mobilised thugs – over 100 – to come and harass us, beat us, desecrate our chambers,” Usoroh said.
Usoroh further disclosed that several councillors sustained varying degrees of injury, while mobile phones belonging to the lawmakers were damaged.
He also alleged that journalists who came to cover the legislative proceedings were physically assaulted and had two cameras confiscated by the attackers.
Usoroh appealed to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom to call the council chairman to order, so as not to jeopardise the existing peace in the state.
He said the councillors had managed to maintain peace with the chairman since he assumed office, but the chairman had looked down on them.
The leader also called on stakeholders in Ini to urgently intervene in the matter for the progress and development of the community.
“We want to call on our dear peace-loving Governor, Dr Umo Eno, the Senate President, Chief Godswill Akpabio, all the stakeholders of Ini Local Government Area and all lovers of peace to call on the Executive Chairman and talk to his conscience.
“So that what has happened today will not repeat itself to avoid bloodshed in Ini Local Government Area,” he said.
All efforts to reach the council chairman, Mr Umah, to react to the allegations proved abortive as his phone lines were switched off and text messages were not delivered following the mayhem at the council.
