On Tuesday, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a motion suspending the state’s 18 local government council chairmen and vice chairmen for a period of two months.
Additionally, the House ordered the legislative arms’ leaders to assume control of their respective councils.
A resolution made by Isibor Adeh, the member representing Esan North East 1, and backed by Mr. Donald Okogbe, the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, resulted in the suspension of the council chairmen and their deputies.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had previously petitioned the House regarding the chairmen’s failure to provide the state government with their local government’s financial information.
In the letter, the governor asked the House to investigate the LG chairmen’s rejection, calling it a form of serious misconduct and insubordination.
Three lawmakers remained neutral, six lawmakers opposed the proposal, and 14 members backed the motion to suspend the LG chairmen when it was put to a vote on Tuesday.
All members are required to comment on the issue, according to Speaker of the House Blessing Agbebaku.
Before a decision is made, the Speaker remarked, “I will beg all members of the House to speak on this matter.”
Following everyone’s speech, the Speaker gave Yahaya Omogbai, the Clerk of the House, instructions to count the number of members who agreed or disagreed with the suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputy members.
The suspension of the 18 local government chairmen was denounced by the state’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Tony Aziegbemi, the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, stated in a statement that the suspension was unlawful and that the chairman and their vice were not given the chance to explain themselves.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Edo State branch strongly condemns the unlawful suspension of the 18 LGA chairs by the Edo State House of Assembly, which was carried out under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s direction.
We would like to make it quite evident that this conduct is unconstitutional and hence void.
“Edo State Chief Judge Justice Daniel Okungbowa’s recent ruling 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 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, are flagrantly disregarded by the illegal suspension.”
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The PDP argued that, given the Supreme Court’s ruling giving LGs autonomy, Governor Okpebholo lacked the authority to request the LGA’s financial statements.
Since the democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils are not subordinate to the governor, the State Assembly, or any other branch of government and enjoy constitutional autonomy and independence, how can a governor order the State Assembly to suspend them for insubordination?
“In complete violation of the Constitution, we also know that the chairman and their vices were suspended without being given a chance to defend themselves on flimsy false accusations.
The Constitution is still supreme, and any attempt to subvert its provisions or to ignore the judiciary and its decisions is not only unlawful but also an outright assault on democracy and the rule of law, we would like to reiterate.
“With this unlawful action, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the entire Assembly have obviously overreached their constitutional mandates, and we implore them to immediately reverse their decision, in the interest of democratic governance and the rule of law.”
In an interview, one of the LG chairmen—who wished to remain nameless due to his lack of authorization to talk on the subject—stated that the Association of Local Government of Nigeria would express his stance in the days ahead.
“We received the notice of the suspension, but I am not the state chairman of ALGON, so I cannot comment on the matter,” he stated.
“But we will express our stance in the days ahead.”
