Suspected political thugs on Monday took over the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat in Edo State, preventing the Chairman, Tom Obaseki, from gaining access to his office.
Armed with weapons, the hoodlums took up strategic positions at the secretariat, chanting war songs.
The development forced the embattled council boss, who had resumed work for the day, to retreat.
Obaseki spoke to journalists outside the council premises, saying, “I came here to continue my work as elected chairman of Oredo Local Government. I met a whole lot of thugs who have already overtaken the council.
“This is a very disturbing trend. We are calling on the security agencies to arrest the situation. What is important is that we have a restraining order.”
Obaseki had resumed for the day, following the Edo State High Court ruling on Friday which nullified his suspension alongside 17 other council chairmen.
The 18 council chairmen and their deputies were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly following a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo in which he accused them of alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.
