Kingsley Ohens reporting 

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the newly sworn-in chairmen of the state’s 18 Local Government Areas to prioritise grassroots development, shun corruption and justify the confidence reposed in them by the people.

Governor Okpebholo gave the charge on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of the 18 newly elected Local Government Chairmen, held at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, describing their assumption of office as the beginning of a new chapter in grassroots governance and development across the state.

The Governor commended the people of Edo for their participation in the recent Local Government elections, which he described as free, fair and credible, noting that the impressive turnout reflected the growing confidence of the people in democracy and his administration.

He stressed that Local Governments, as the tier of government closest to the people, have a critical responsibility to ensure that the benefits of government reach communities across the state.

According to him, the renewed commitment to Local Government autonomy under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed greater responsibilities on the newly elected chairmen to deliver meaningful development at the grassroots.

“The overwhelming victory recorded by our party at the recent polls is a call for more work.

“I charge you to go and work for the people, complement the development efforts of the State Government and ensure that the impact of government is felt in every community,” the Governor said.

Okpebholo urged the chairmen to regard public office as a sacred trust and an opportunity to serve, warning them against corruption and practices capable of undermining the confidence of the people.

He said their legacies would ultimately be measured by the lives they touched, the problems they solved and the extent to which they utilised the opportunities entrusted to them to improve the welfare of their constituents.

The Governor also charged the new council chairmen to strengthen political structures at the grassroots and mobilise support for President Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.

He urged them to work towards achieving Edo State’s collective target of 2.5 million votes for the President, stressing that such an objective would require hard work, unity and sustained engagement with the people.

“The best way to earn their continued support is through good governance and visible development.

“The people have entrusted you with leadership. Go and justify that trust. Serve with humility, lead with integrity and work with passion,” Okpebholo added.

The Governor expressed optimism that the tenure of the newly inaugurated chairmen would usher in greater progress, peace and prosperity across Edo State.

Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in chairmen, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Iduseri, commended Governor Okpebholo for the confidence reposed in them and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve their respective communities.

Iduseri acknowledged the enormous responsibilities attached to their new positions, assuring that the chairmen were committed to providing purposeful, transparent and people-oriented leadership at the grassroots.

“We pledge our commitment to provide purposeful, transparent and people-oriented leadership at the grassroots.

“We are ready to key into the SHINE Agenda of the Governor and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, and to bring development to our various Local Governments,” he said.

The swearing-in ceremony marked a significant step in the administration’s renewed emphasis on grassroots governance, with the new council leadership expected to work in partnership with the State Government to deepen development and improve the wellbeing of residents across the 18 Local Government Areas.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, made the development known in a statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026.