The political tension in Edo State escalated on Tuesday as all 18 local government chairmen defiantly rejected their suspension by the State House of Assembly.
Describing the suspension as illegal and unconstitutional, the chairmen have vowed to remain in office until the expiration of their tenure.
The Edo State House of Assembly had on Tuesday passed a resolution suspending the council chairmen and their deputies for two months.
The suspension was based on allegations of gross misconduct and insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Speaker of the Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, announced the decision, citing the chairmen’s refusal to comply with a directive from the governor.
The directive, issued through Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa on December 3, required the council chairmen to submit their financial statements from September 4 to date.
However, the chairmen, through Newman Ugiagbe, the Executive Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council and Chairman of the Edo chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), dismissed the Assembly’s action as a “brazen violation” of the law.
“This suspension is a brazen disobedience to the constitution,” Ugiagbe declared during a press briefing.
He revealed that a judgment from the Edo State High Court had already declared any attempt to suspend or remove the chairmen as unconstitutional.
“The Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State High Court in Suit No. B/2570S/2624 ruled that our suspension or removal by the Assembly is ‘unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever,’” Ugiagbe said.
He added that the court’s ruling was served to the Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, on December 17, 2024, as a reminder of the legal constraints surrounding the suspension.
A fresh suit has also been filed against the state government, Governor Okpebholo, and others, with an interim court order restraining them from interfering with local government operations.
“The High Court granted an interim order barring the government from obstructing our constitutional rights over all assets and funds allocated to us from the Federation Account,” Ugiagbe noted.
“We Were Elected, Not Appointed”
The chairmen cited a recent Supreme Court judgment in Attorney General of the Federation vs Attorney General of Abia State & 35 others (2024) as further validation of their position.
The judgment explicitly forbids state governors and assemblies from dissolving or interfering with local government administration through state laws or executive orders.
“The action of the Edo State House of Assembly is ultra vires and therefore a nullity in the eyes of the law. It is also contemptuous of the court’s orders,” Ugiagbe said.
He stressed that the chairmen were elected officials, not political appointees, and were determined to complete their four-year tenure.
“We remain the Executive Chairmen of our respective Local Government Councils and will continue to discharge our constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive officers of our councils,” he affirmed.
Ugiagbe also called for security personnel to be deployed to all 18 local government secretariats to ensure law and order.
“The People Gave Us Their Mandate”
Reiterating their resolve, Ugiagbe stated that the chairmen remain in charge and will not vacate their offices unless formally notified otherwise.
“In any case, we are yet to receive any official document to that effect, so we are still in charge,” he said confidently.
He emphasised that the people of Edo State had given them a democratic mandate through the September 2, 2023, elections.
“That mandate cannot be truncated. We were not nominated; we were elected. We remain local government chairmen until our tenure expires, and we will continue to carry out our lawful duties,” Ugiagbe declared.
The embattled chairmen also criticised the Assembly for acting on the governor’s directive without regard for constitutional safeguards.
Political Showdown Looms
This development sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown in Edo State.
The chairmen’s defiance challenges not only the authority of the Assembly but also Governor Okpebholo’s control over local government administration.
Observers say the crisis underscores ongoing power struggles between the state government and local councils, a recurring issue in Nigeria’s federal system.
As the suspended chairmen dig in their heels, all eyes are on the next move by the Edo State government and the judiciary.
For now, the local government chairmen remain resolute, insisting that they will continue to occupy their offices and perform their duties.
The political drama in Edo State is far from over.
