No fewer than 10 persons, including councillors, a journalist and a cameraman, were reportedly injured on Thursday when suspected hoodlums allegedly invaded a meeting of councillors in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The incident occurred at Odoro Ikpe, the administrative headquarters of the council, during a session convened by councillors who were seeking to examine the local government’s financial records amid allegations of financial mismanagement and lack of accountability against the council chairman, Hon. Inibehe Umah.
According to the councillors, the chairman had repeatedly failed to provide information on the council’s revenues and expenditures.
They also accused him of withholding statutory allocations and allowances meant for members of the legislative council, according to Leadership.
Addressing journalists at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, shortly after the incident, the lawmakers alleged that the chairman had operated the council without transparency since assuming office in October 2024.
“The chairman lacks the virtues of accountability and openness. He has abused office since coming into power,” the councillors alleged.
The lawmakers further claimed that governance activities in the local government were largely confined to social media appearances rather than tangible development projects and service delivery.
“The chairman runs Ini Local Government Council alone and only functions on the pages of social media, Facebook and WhatsApp. If you come to the council, nothing is happening,” they claimed.
Leader of the Legislative Council, Mr. Donald Usoroh, who reportedly sustained a leg injury during the attack, alleged that the council chairman arrived at the legislative chamber accompanied by dozens of hired thugs who assaulted councillors during plenary proceedings.
Usoroh, who appeared alongside seven other councillors from the 11-member legislative council, said the lawmakers came under attack while carrying out their constitutional oversight duties.
“Today is a sad day for democracy in Ini Local Government Area and for legislators across Nigeria,” he said.
Explaining the legal basis of their actions, the council leader cited provisions of the council’s by-laws, noting that councillors are empowered to scrutinise and deliberate on monthly financial statements presented by the chairman.
“Section 28, subsection C, says the legislator is mandated to examine and debate the monthly statement of incomes and expenditures tendered by the chairman of the local government council,” he stated.
“Section F says they also have the powers to exercise such oversight functions as may enhance the smooth running of the council. Sadly, in Ini Local Government, since we came on board on October 9, 2024, the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Inibehe Umah, has refused us to exercise these legislative powers.”
Usoroh disclosed that on June 2, 2026, the legislative council formally invited the chairman through the council clerk to appear before lawmakers and present a one-year financial report detailing the council’s income and expenditure.
He alleged that instead of responding to the invitation, the chairman orchestrated the disruption of the legislative sitting.
“Sadly, when we went there today for our plenary, which we usually have every Tuesday, the chairman, Mr. Inibehe Umah, mobilised over 100 thugs to come and harass us, beat us and desecrate our chambers,” he alleged.
The council leader further claimed that several councillors sustained injuries during the attack and that some lawmakers had their mobile phones damaged.
He also alleged that two cameras belonging to a local journalist were confiscated, while the journalist and his cameraman were physically assaulted during the incident.
The councillors appealed to Governor Umo Eno to intervene in the matter and caution the council chairman to prevent a further breakdown of peace and democratic processes in the area.
They warned that the lingering dispute within the local government could threaten stability and effective governance if left unresolved.
Attempts to obtain the reaction of Chairman Inibehe Umah were unsuccessful, as his telephone line was reportedly switched off at the time of filing this report.
As of press time, the allegations had not been independently verified, while the council chairman had yet to issue an official response to the claims.
