It Is A Direct Attack On Democracy - PDP Kicks As Edo Assembly Suspends 18 LG Chairmen For ‘Disobeying’ Okpebholo

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has frowned against the decision made by the Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, to suspend the chairmen and vice chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state for two months.

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

The suspension of the council chairmen and their deputies was sequel to 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.

Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier written a petition to the House over the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.

In the letter, the governor, who described the LG chairmen’s refusal as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.

When the matter came up for debate on Tuesday, 14 members supported the motion for the suspension of the LG chairmen, six lawmakers were opposed to the motion while three members maintained neutrality.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, told the members that all of them must speak on the matter.

The Speaker said, “I will implore that all members of the House speak on this matter before a decision is taken.”

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 chairmen and their deputies.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state condemned the suspension of the 18 local government chairman.

In a statement by the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, the party said that the chairmen and their vice were not given the opportunity to defend themselves describing the suspension as unconstitutional.

“The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party condemns in the strongest terms the illegal suspension of the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State by the Edo State House of Assembly, following the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

“We want to clearly state that this action is unconstitutional, null, and void.

“The illegal suspension is a blatant disregard for 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.”

The PDP contended that Governor Okpebholo lacked the power to demand the financial statements of the LGA in the light of the Supreme Court judgment granting LGs autonomy.

“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 given the opportunity to be heard in their defence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped-up charges, in total disregard to 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 not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

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

In an interview with Punch, one of the LG chairmen, who spoke anonymously because he was not been authorised to speak on the matter, said the Association of Local Government of Nigerian in the state would make his position known in the coming days.

He said, “We got the notice of the suspension but I cannot speak on the matter as I am not the  ALGON Chairman of the state.

“However, we will make our position known in the coming days.”