PDP tackles Okpebholo over LG chairmen suspension
Indications emerged on Monday that leaders of the legislative arm of the local government areas in Edo State had taken over the helm of affairs as ordered by the state House of Assembly.
This was against the mandatory injunction issued by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court on Friday, declaring the suspension of the 18 LG chairmen null and void and restraining the state government and other parties from meddling in council operations until the substantive case was heard.
The caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, however, decried the intimidation, manipulation, and blackmail tactics employed by the state government to coerce the chairmen into endorsing what it termed illegal actions to allow the looting of council funds.
The embattled chairmen were given a 48-hour ultimatum on December 3, 2024, to submit their financial statements directly to the government.
Following their refusal, Governor Monday Okpebholo petitioned the state assembly to suspend the chairmen, citing “gross misconduct” under Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000).
The Edo Assembly subsequently suspended the chairmen and their deputies for two months and ordered that the leaders of the legislative arm of the councils should fill the leadership void in their absence.
Reacting, the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, declared the suspension illegal, adding that only local councillors, not governors or state house of assembly, hold the constitutional authority to suspend or remove elected local government officials.
Based on the ruling of the high court, there were expectations that the chairmen would resume duties today.
It was learnt on Monday that leaders of the legislative arm of the 18 local government areas were quietly sworn in to take over as acting chairmen in the councils.
It was further learnt that the takeover of the councils’ affairs went unhindered, as the chairmen allegedly failed to join the state House of Assembly in their suit.
The leader of Esan Central Local Government Area legislative arm, Kelvin Iyere, on Monday, reportedly took over as acting chairman.
Suspected political thugs reportedly took over the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat, preventing the council chairman, Tom Obaseki, from gaining access to his office.
The hoodlums reportedly 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 told journalists outside the council premises: “I came here to continue my work as elected chairman of Oredo Local Government. I met a whole lot of thugs who had 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.”
However, the chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Mr Newton Ugiagbe, according to his Chief Press Secretary, Roy Osariemen, resumed and performed his official duties unhindered.
Osariemen said: “Although the All Progressives Congress thugs tried to disrupt the smooth running of the council, they were resisted by the good people of Orhionmwon.
“Apart from those skirmishes, the council chairman and the legislative arm worked on Monday unhindered.”
A source noted that the government had earlier directed the chairmen to hand over the affairs of their respective councils to the leaders of the legislative arm.
Speaking on the development, the PDP caretaker committee, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, after an emergency meeting with the chairmen and legislative heads of the council at the party secretariat in Benin, urged the chairmen to return to their respective council secretariats and continue to perform their tasks.
The meeting presided over by the chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, encouraged local government leaders to stand united in their resolve to protect the interests of their constituents and uphold the rule of law.
The statement read, “The council chairmen are urged to return to their respective council secretariat and continue to serve the constituents who elected them, reaffirming their commitment to local governance.
“Legislative leaders are advised to remain vigilant against the deceptive offers presented to them. The law is explicit regarding their responsibilities, and they must resist any attempts to compromise their integrity.
“The state government has faced significant backlash and condemnation from the judiciary and the Attorney General of the Federation regarding its illegal actions, yet continues to deflect blame onto the Edo State House of Assembly.
“The councils resolved to pursue legal action against any individuals, including heads of local government administration and treasurers, who, without the authority of the council chairmen, tamper with council resources.
“In light of the recent denials and the shifting of responsibility to the EDHA, the party, alongside the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, will be sending a letter to the EDHA, demanding the immediate implementation of existing court judgments related to council suspensions.”
