The controversy over the use of local government statutory allocation by Governor Peter Obi and Heads of Administration in the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra state has split the state House of Assembly into two. Following the non conduct of local government election, the Obi administration appointed transition caretaker committee members to pilot the affairs of the councils but at the expiration of their tenure, the lawmakers through a bill sacked the caretaker committee members.
Rather than conduct the local government poll, the Governor evolved another strategy by using career civil servants, tagged Heads of Administration and presidents general of town unions in the utilisation of local government allocations for project execution.
Angered by this development, the House of Assembly in a motion by Chief Mike Offor and supported by Prince Ebere Ezechukwu, gave a 7-days ultimatum to the Heads of Administrations of the local councils to submit their budgets to enable the House know how the funds were being expended.
However, the Heads of Administration had since refused to comply with the directive following the visit to the House by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Dubem Obaze, which some of the lawmakers told the Vanguard was to influence them with money to soft pedal on the matter.