Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has sworn in the 13 newly elected chairmen of Local Government areas of the State.
The inauguration was held at Pa Ngene Oruta township stadium, Abakaliki despite Federal High Court judgement which nullified the local government elections.
The Federal High Court had in a judgement delivered by justice Fatun Riman on 25th August, 2022, nullified the said election that produced the 13 local government chairmen on the grounds of irregularities and total negligence to the 2022 Electoral ACT and other relevant laws by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC and therefore ruled that the election should be null and void.
The Court equally ordered that the incumbent council chairmen and ward councillors should not leave office as their tenures would elapse on August 2023, when a fresh election for the local government areas in the state has to be held legally.
Also, the newly-elected council chairmen had earlier approached the Ebonyi State High Court Abakaliki, and obtained an ex-parte order.
Umahi insisted that the Ex-parte order granted by the State High Court empowered him to swear in the council chairmen.
He also sworn in 11 members of Local government Advisory Committee and 4 Senior Special Assistants
The 4 appointed SSAs were immediate past Council Chairmen while the Advisory Committee members were the immediate past Vice Chairmen.
The event also featured the flag off of empowerment of 3480 people of the state as part of the offshoot of the #Endsars palliative.
The beneficiaries were paid ₦300,000 each in the first batch of the disbursement.
Umahi in his remarks expressed joy over the success of the event, describing it as victory for democracy and the rule of law.
He further expressed pride for handing over the leadership of the State to the youths, admonishing the Chairmen to continue to show respect and honour to the elders of the State.
"The youths, you will not retire us because old brooms still sweeps better than the new ones.
"Remember, we laid the foundation."
The Governor emphasized that he decided to appoint the former Chairmen and their Vice as SSAs and members of the LG advisory Council in line with his vow to continue with all his faithful lieutenants to the end.
"Let me congratulate all the outgone chairmen. You entered for a two year tenure, and your two year tenure elapsed yesterday.
"And for the new Chairmen, your tenure is also two years.
"About 7 of the outgone chairmen are holding either the Senate ticket, House of representatives or the House of Assembly.
"So you can see that APC is very progressive, and we are people who reward loyalty.
"All the people that came with us in 2015, they will continue with me to 2023 and those who are going forward to higher positions, we will continue.
"But one thing is very certain, I have given the youths the leadership of the State.
He further instructed the chairmen to swear-in the Councillors Friday in their various council headquarters.
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