On Tuesday, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice chairmen of all 18 local government councils in the state for two months. The House also directed the leaders of the legislative arms to take over the leadership of their respective councils.
The suspension followed a motion moved by Isibor Adeh, the representative for Esan North East 1, and seconded by Donald Okogbe, the representative for Akoko-Edo 2. Governor Monday Okpebholo had previously sent a petition to the House, citing the refusal of the council chairmen to submit financial records to the state government. The governor described their actions as insubordination and gross misconduct, requesting the House to investigate the matter.
During the debate, 14 members supported the motion for suspension, six opposed it, and three remained neutral. The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, emphasized that all members must speak on the issue.
The Speaker said, “I will implore that all members of the House speak on this matter before a decision is taken.”
After they had all spoken, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to do a head count of the members who supported or opposed the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state condemned the suspension of the 18 local government chairman.
In a statement by the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, the party said that the chairmen and their vice were not given the opportunity to defend themselves describing the suspension as unconstitutional.
“The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party condemns in the strongest terms the illegal suspension of the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State by the Edo State House of Assembly, following the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“We want to clearly state that this action is unconstitutional, null, and void.
“The illegal suspension is a blatant disregard for the recent ruling of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and the Supreme Court’s decision, in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The PDP contended that Governor Okpebholo lacked the power to demand the financial statements of the LGA in the light of the Supreme Court judgment granting LGs autonomy.
“How can a governor direct the state Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the Constitution and are not subordinates of the governor, the State Assembly, or any other arm of government?
“We are also aware that the chairmen and their vices weren’t even given the opportunity to be heard in their defence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped-up charges, in total disregard to the Constitution.
“We want to restate that the Constitution remains supreme, and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.
“The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the entire Assembly have clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action and we urge them to immediately reverse its decision, with respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.”
One of the LG chairmen, who spoke anonymously because he was not been authorised to speak on the matter, said the Association of Local Government of Nigerian in the state would make his position known in the coming days.
He said, “We got the notice of the suspension but I cannot speak on the matter as I am not the ALGON Chairman of the state.
“However, we will make our position known in the coming days.”
