Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State made history on Friday, September 4, 2026, as Hon. Vera Sado was sworn in as the council’s first elected female chairperson.
She also set another record as the first person from the Anegbette/South Uneme axis to head the local government since its creation.
Governor Monday Okpebholo performed the swearing-in of Hon. Sado and 17 other chairpersons at Festival Hall, Government House, Benin.
The event attracted APC leaders, dignitaries and supporters from Etsako Central, who celebrated Hon. Sado as the only woman among the 18 newly inaugurated council bosses.
In his address, Governor Okpebholo said the inauguration signals ‘the beginning of a new chapter in grassroots governance and development.’
He scored the July 12 LG elections free, fair and credible, saying the turnout proved growing confidence in democracy and his government.
‘Local governments, being the closest tier of government to the people, have a greater responsibility to ensure development reaches communities across the state,’ he stated.
Linking the task to LG autonomy under President Bola Tinubu, the Governor said the responsibility is now heavier.
‘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,’ Okpebholo said.
He warned the chairmen against corruption, describing public office as ‘a sacred trust.’
‘Your legacies will be defined by the lives you touch, the problems you solve, and how effectively you use the opportunities entrusted to you,’ he added.
Hon. Sado won the chairmanship on Saturday, July 12, 2026, on the APC platform during the statewide LG polls.
After her swearing-in, she appreciated her constituents and assured them of ‘better days ahead.’
Her victory has been welcomed in the South Uneme/Anegbette axis as a historic milestone.
‘It is a dream come true to produce an elected chairman from our axis for the first time,’ said Hon. Emmanuel Okolo, former Councillor and ex-Leader of the Legislative Arm in the Council.