Edo: Call Okpebholo to order,PDP begs Tinubu
By Titus Akhigbe
Following the suspension of the Chairmen and vice Chairmen of Councils ,the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Governor Monday Okpebholo to order over attempts at exterminating constitutional democracy in the state.
Briefing newsmen in Benin over the state of Edo, Chairman, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee,Hon . Anthony Aziegbemi also called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the judiciary, the National Security Adviser , Inspector General of Police and all relevant security authorities to urgently intervene and restore order and the rule of law in Edo State,as regards the suspension of Chairmen and vice Chairmen of Councils in all the 18 Local Government Areas.
Aziegbemi, who expressed worry over the way and manner the governor had continued to harass the 18 PDP Council Chairmen after their alleged unlawful suspension by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Governor, while accusing Okpebholo of extermination of constitutional democracy, lawlessness, and blatant disregard for the rule of law.
READ ALSO: Diversification from oil, an urgent economic necessity..
He added that the Edo State Government under the leadership of Okpebholo had made several attempts at exterminating constitutional democracy and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the judiciary, the National Security Adviser , Inspector General of Police and all relevant security authorities to urgently intervene and restore order and the rule of law in Edo State.
Azeigbemi noted that this was necessary before events spiral out of control, which could lead to chaos and anarchy in the state and eventual breakdown of law and order.
“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 and which presents 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-select 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 Vice Chairmen and the House of Assembly still proceeded to suspend them and this they claimed to do under Section 20.of the same law, which did not give the Assembly any power to suspend any Local Government Official.” Azeigbemi said.
Aziegbemi expressed dismay 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 and capriciously and illegally and in breach of court injunctions in purportedly suspending the council chairmen.
“This they did without regard to the constitutional, legal, social, security, political and economic implications and consequences.
“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 can not 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.”Azeigbemi posited.
