From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter, on Tuesday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Agbetokun, and traditional institutions to rein in the state government and the House of Assembly to reverse the suspension order placed on the Local Government Council Chairmen before the situation snowballs into a major political crisis in the state.
The state chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, made the appeal while speaking on what he entitled “Extermination of Constitutional Democracy in Edo” during a press briefing in Benin.
He said despite the ruling of the court and the warnings by President Bola Tinubu through the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, the state governor has continued to instigate the removal of the council chairmen.
“We are deeply worried that if urgent and decisive action is not taken to address this lawlessness and restore order within the system, we may witness an escalation that could result in crisis, anarchy, and chaos, presenting a clear and imminent danger of a breakdown of law and order in Edo State.
“As you are aware, recent events have brought to light the unlawful suspension of the duly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State, purportedly by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo.
“The illegal suspension, carried out on December 17, 2024, was executed under the false pretense of ‘gross misconduct and insubordination’, without fair hearing and under the misplaced and mistaken belief that the Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen are subordinate to the Governor, who premised his directive on Section 10(1) of the Local Government Law of Edo State, which has since been voided by the judgment of the Chief Judge of Edo State.
“It should be noted that no complaint was made against the Chairmen, yet the House of Assembly still proceeded to suspend them, claiming to do so under Section 20 of the same law, which did not give the Assembly any power to suspend any Local Government Official!
“We are alarmed that despite the clear and binding judgment from the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who upheld that the Edo State Government and the Edo State House of Assembly have no legal right to suspend or dissolve elected local government councils, the state government and their agents proceeded to enforce their individual interests capriciously and illegally, breaching court injunctions in purportedly suspending the council chairmen.
“This was done without regard to the constitutional, legal, social, security, political, and economic implications and consequences.
“The State Chief Judge, abiding by the principles of stare decisis, had cited the recent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in July 2024 in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (an APC chieftain), affirming that the dissolution or suspension of elected local government council members by any state government, House of Assembly, or its agents is unconstitutional, illegal, and null and void.
“The State Government also disregarded the advice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, given through the Attorney General of the Federation, on this matter.
“The Attorney General of the Federation was emphatic and insisted that elected local government council chairmen and their vice cannot be dissolved, removed, or suspended without following the due process of law through the Councillors.
“However, Okpebholo and his handlers jettisoned the advisory, deploying thugs and non-state actors who have been moving from council to council with whips and dangerous weapons to illegally enforce the illegal suspension of the Local Government Chairmen, despite the prevailing legal position on this issue and in utter breach of express court orders.
“Most troubling, however, was that the council chairmen had approached the court for redress on the matter, and Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court 2, Benin City, issued a mandatory injunction restraining the state government, the Governor, and other parties from meddling in local government affairs and operations until the substantive case has been heard and settled.
“Sadly, in total disregard of and disobedience to the prevailing orders and laws, the state government has continued in its acts of crass lawlessness, contemptuous disregard of judicial orders, abuse of processes, and misuse of executive power, which dangerously portends the extermination of constitutional democracy in the state,” Aziegbemi explained.
The PDP chairman, while accusing the state government of making moves to change signatories of the various local government accounts, threatened that any bank that allowed itself to be used would be dragged to court by the party.
“We have also witnessed unauthorized attempts to alter signatories to Local Government Accounts, as well as clandestine efforts to withdraw funds from Local Government Accounts without a proper mandate.
“There are also reports of illegal requests for sensitive council documents by unauthorized persons.
“I want to say, any bank that allows a change in the signatories will be dragged to court for contempt of court,” Aziegbemi said.
All efforts to get the Edo State Government’s reaction to the PDP’s allegations failed. Repeated messages and calls to the mobile phone of the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, were not responded to at press time Tuesday.
