PDP urges Edo assembly to recall suspended council chairmen

The Edo chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the State House of Assembly to recall the 18 suspended local government chairmen for effective grassroots governance.

It was reported that the Edo assembly had in December 2024 suspended the 18 local government chairmen and the vice chairmen for two months, citing alleged gross misconduct.

Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee told newsmen in Benin on Monday that due to the absence of chairmen alleged illegal financial dealings were currently ongoing in the local governments.

He alleged that the suspension of the chairmen and the vice chairmen did not follow due process because it violated Section 19 of the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 (amended 2002).

“From September 4, 2023, when the elected council executives were sworn in, until December 16, 2024, when the crisis started, the councils were vibrant and functional.

“The local governments effectively delivered governance and essential services to the people before Governor Monday Okpebholo, barely a month in office, ordered their suspension,” he stated.

He condemned the suspension as unlawful, accusing the Assembly of executing the directive under false allegations of gross misconduct without granting the chairmen fair hearings.

“This illegal action ignored clear court rulings, including a Supreme Court judgment from July 11, 2024, stating that elected council members cannot be dissolved by state authorities,” Aziegbemi added.

He noted that the state Chief Judge had cited this ruling, which was in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, affirming local government autonomy.

Aziegbemi lamented that council activities had stalled, with chairmen facing attacks when attempting to resume work, describing the situation as a violation of democratic rights.

He commended the Attorney General of the Federation for upholding the law and urged him to institute contempt proceedings against Edo’s Attorney General for defying the ruling.

He warned that Edo’s situation set a dangerous precedent that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s efforts at ensuring full autonomy for local councils nationwide.

He called on the Attorney General to halt all federal allocations to Edo State through the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) as the law required.

“There is no approved budget in any local council, yet funds are being spent illegally without due process in contracts, purchases, and public projects.

“In the past three months, the Okpebholo administration has unilaterally stopped salaries for elected council officials, except for selectively favoured councilors,” he revealed

He accused the government of nepotism, alleging that only politically loyal councilors were being paid while elected executives faced financial strangulation.

Reacting, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, dismissed PDP’s claims on local government crisis in the state

Ohonbamu stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy did not nullify the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.

Ohonbamu clarified that the governor did not suspend the chairmen and vice chairmen but only reported them to the Assembly, which acted within its legal powers.

Responding to PDP’s claim that the impeachment of council chairmen was illegal, he asserted that the chairmen were removed by their own councilors, following due process.

He also refuted PDP’s claim that council staff were unpaid, stating that salaries were being disbursed across the state without interruptions or political interference.

He said the allegations that Governor Okpebholo shared N30 billion council allocations with party members, was a baseless propaganda meant to mislead the public.