FORMER ESAN CENTRAL MAJORITY LEADER DISMISSES SUSPENSION, DESCRIBES ACTION AS ‘POLITICAL ABSURDITY’

Urbanscoopnews reporting 

Esan Central, Edo State — Former Majority Leader of the Esan Central Legislative Assembly and House of Assembly candidate for Esan Central Constituency, Hon. George Washington Egbele Ose, has rejected a purported suspension issued against him by the Legislative Arm of the Esan Central Local Government Council, describing the action as legally untenable and politically motivated.

In a statement released on Thursday, Ose reacted to a suspension letter dated June 11, 2026, reportedly signed under the leadership of the Leader of the House, Hon. Famous Ebanehita. He argued that the action was fundamentally flawed because he had formally resigned both his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his seat in the Legislative Assembly on May 1, 2026, more than a month before the suspension was announced.

According to him, copies of his resignation were duly transmitted to the leadership of the Legislative Assembly and the APC in Esan Central, while the development was also made public through print, electronic, and social media platforms.

Ose questioned the rationale behind suspending an individual who had already vacated office, stating that the development raises concerns about adherence to due process and institutional procedures within the Legislative Arm.

“The question therefore remains: How does a legislative body suspend a man who had already resigned over a month earlier?” he said.

The former Majority Leader further criticized the current leadership of the Assembly, alleging that it had become preoccupied with political disputes rather than legislative responsibilities and governance.

He maintained that, prior to his resignation, he and other members had supported the developmental programmes of the Executive Chairman of Esan Central Local Government, arguing that governance should prioritize the welfare of citizens over political disagreements.

As part of his response, Ose challenged the leadership of the House to publicly disclose all financial records relating to his office from May 1, 2026—the effective date of his resignation—to June 11, 2026, when the suspension letter was issued.

Specifically, he requested the publication of records showing whether he received any salaries, grants, Duty Tour Allowances (DTA), or other official financial benefits after leaving office.

According to him, such records would demonstrate that he had ceased to function as a legislator before the suspension was announced.

He described the suspension as “a desperate political document manufactured to create headlines where there is no substance,” insisting that documented events could not be altered through political actions.

Ose also urged residents of Esan Central to disregard the suspension, calling instead for greater attention to governance, accountability, transparency, and development within the local government.

He concluded by stating that genuine leadership should be measured by its impact on the lives of the people rather than by political actions directed at opponents.

The leadership of the Esan Central Legislative Assembly had not publicly responded to Ose’s claims at the time of filing this report. Consequently, the allegations and assertions contained in his statement remain his position pending any official response from the Legislative Arm of the Council.