Polycarp Sola-Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Thursday sworn in the 13 newly elected Local Government chairmen in the state as well as 171 ward councilors.
The inauguration was held regardless of the Federal High Court judgment which invalidated the local government elections.
The event also included the empowerment of 3,480 individuals across the 13 local government areas of the state as part of remission for the #EndSARS protest.
The recipients were to get N300,000 each in the first batch of the disbursement.
Umahi said: “I congratulate all the newly sworn-in local government chairmen. I charge you to as a matter of urgency inaugurate the council legislative arm before 9 am on September 2.”
Umahi said the ex-parte order granted by the State High Court had empowered him to swear in the new council chairmen.
The Governor explained that the tenure for chairmen and councillors in the State would remain two years as enshrined in the amended Ebonyi Local Government Law 005.
Meanwhile, some of the former chairmen, who are not candidates for the 2023 elections, were equally appointed as Senior Special Assistants. to the Governor.