At a press briefing in Benin City, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo State PDP Caretaker Committee, reported that the Edo State chapter of the PDP has expressed alarm over the alleged kidnapping of some councilors in the state.
According to Aziegbemi, approximately five councilors from the Orhionmwon and Akoko-Edo local governments were kidnapped by suspected agents and taken to the state government. He claimed that the ward 1 and ward 2 councilors from Orhionmwon Local Government were kidnapped on Monday, while three were kidnapped in the Akoko-Edo local government area.
The state PDP caretaker committee chairman accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of sponsoring illegal meetings across various local councils in a desperate bid to impeach the substantive chairmen of the state’s 18 local government areas.
He alleged that the meeting had been held with the leaders of the legislative arm of local governments, who have been empowered as acting chairmen of the councils, their “loyal” councillors, and the heads of local government administrations.
“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.”
“We are alarmed 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 Chief Judge, abiding by the principles of stare decisis, had cited the recent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in July, 2024, in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, (an APC chieftain) affirming that the dissolution or suspension of elected local government council members by any state government, House of Assembly, or its agents is unconstitutional, illegal, and null and void,” he said.
Aziegbemi also accused the state government of disregarding the advice of President Bola Tinubu, given through the Attorney General of the Federation on the matter.
“The Attorney General of the Federation was emphatic and insisted that elected local government council chairmen and their vice cannot 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.”
“Sadly, in total disregard of and disobedience to the prevailing orders and laws, the state government has continued in its acts of crass lawlessness, contemptuous disregard of judicial orders, abuse of processes and misuse of executive power , which dangerously portends the extermination of constitutional democracy in the State.”
“We are aware that the Governor seeks to enforce and has indeed commenced his devious and illegal agenda with the help of vile and violent thugs and other non state actors.”
“In addition to the foregoing, a reflection of a lawless and unfocused government, there have been several reports of intimidation, bribery, harassment, manipulation, and blackmail by the state government to coerce council leaders into endorsing the illegal actions that would allow for the looting of council funds,” he added.
