A political crisis is unfolding in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as 11 out of the 12 councillors in the legislative arm have moved against the Council Chairman, Hon. Ikechukwu Ogboffia, accusing him of high-handedness, abuse of power, and political marginalization.
The councillors, in a strongly worded petition addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru, alleged that the chairman has sidelined elected councillors and key stakeholders, thereby stalling effective governance and grassroots development in the LGA.
The petition, obtained by journalists, lists a long series of grievances, including:
- Exclusion of councillors from governance
- Neglect of constituency projects
- Diversion of palliatives
- Favoritism and political bias
- Unexecuted budget items
- Poor welfare and unpaid entitlements
- Breakdown in communication and disrespect by aides
- Selective implementation of government programs
“It is unfortunate that the chairman has sidelined us completely. Ward mobilization duties have been assigned to his special assistants, rendering councillors irrelevant in their constituencies,” the petition stated.
They also claimed that the chairman ignored Governor Nwifuru’s directives on Christmas palliatives, with most wards receiving less than half of the approved materials.
Furthermore, the councillors accused the chairman of concentrating government projects and youth empowerment programs solely in his ward, Abaomege, to the detriment of others.
“In the entire LGA, only Abaomege ward has benefited from projects in over a year, despite a ₦12 billion budget,” they alleged, raising questions about the ₦100 million allocated for the renovation of the legislative chambers, which they say remains unaccounted for.
Other complaints include:
- No provision of a legislative bus
- Five months of unpaid legislative stipends
- Lack of infrastructure projects unlike previous administrations
- Humiliation by the chairman’s aides and exclusion from official committees
Reacting to the development, Hon. Ikechukwu Ogboffia denied all allegations, describing them as baseless, politically motivated, and a ploy to tarnish his image ahead of the next local government elections.
Speaking through his Public Relations Officer, Mr. Omekannaya Orogwu, the chairman said:
“The allegations are unfounded. I doubt the petition even came from the councillors, as the House Leader is already denying involvement. Every single point raised is false.”
Addressing claims that only Abaomege ward benefits from projects, Ogboffia clarified that:
“The only projects in Abaomege are a shopping mall and an attempted bridge construction, which has stalled due to funding challenges. No major council projects have been cited there in the past 20 years.”
On the ₦100 million legislative chamber renovation, the chairman’s spokesman said the project is ongoing and questioned the claim that the funds were intended for a new building.
He also denied diverting palliatives or undermining councillors in their roles.
“The chairman never denied them any entitlements. The claim that they’ve been replaced in their functions is false. These are political tactics aimed at weakening his chances for re-election,” Orogwu said.
