The political climate in Edo State intensified on Tuesday when the State House of Assembly suspended the 18 local government chairpersons and their deputies after Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo filed a petition accusing them of insubordination.

The suspension of the council chairpersons and their deputies followed a motion moved by the member representing Esan North East 1, Isibor Adeh, and seconded by the member representing Akoko-Edo 2, Mr Donald Okogbe.

The governor had written a petition to the House regarding the chairmen’s refusal to submit the financial records of their local government to the state government.

In the letter, Okpebholo described their action as insubordination and gross misconduct and requested the House investigate the matter.

The speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, told the members that all of them must speak on the matter. “I will implore all members of the House to talk about this matter. 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 chairpersons and their deputies.

When the matter came up for debate, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, six opposed it, and three members abstained. The Edo State House of Assembly passed a resolution suspending the chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils for two months.

The House also mandated the legislative arms’ leaders to take over their respective councils’ leadership.

PDP Kicks Against Suspension
The Peoples Democratic Party moved swiftly, stating that this action is unconstitutional, null, and void,” the statement reads:

“The illegal suspension is a blatant disregard of 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.

“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 allowed to be heard in their defense and were suspended unheard on watery trumped up charges, disregarding 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 illegal and a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

“The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the entire Assembly have overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action, and we urge them to immediately reverse its decision concerning the rule of law and democratic governance.

“We, therefore, direct the council chairmen and their vice-chairmen to report to their councils tomorrow to carry on with their regular duties.
“We also invite the Attorney General and minister of justice of the federation to call the Edo State Governor-select to order as his action is not only in breach of the constitution but a threat to security.”
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