The 18 local government chairmen in Edo State have criticised their suspension by the Edo State House of Assembly, describing the action as a violation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy.
The embattled chairmen, along with their deputies, also cited a recent judgment by the Edo State Chief Judge and an interim court order restraining any action against them.
Led by Newman Ugiagbe, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, and the chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, the officials addressed journalists on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Benin.
Ugiagbe asserted that their tenure, which began on 4 September 2023, would run until September 2026, as they were democratically elected and not appointed.
He stated, “Politics is different from governance. What is happening is politics, but we are products of the law, elected by the people, not appointees. Our tenure is backed by the Constitution.”
According to Ugiagbe, the suspension stemmed from a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo titled “A Petition of Gross Misconduct and Insubordination Against the Leadership of 18 Local Government Councils”, dated 16 December 2024. The governor alleged acts of gross misconduct by the council chairmen, citing Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000).
However, Ugiagbe contended that Section 10(1) of the state law contradicts Section 7(1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees local government autonomy.
“In a judgment delivered by the Chief Judge of the Edo State High Court in Suit No. B/257oS/2024, the court declared Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law, 2000 unconstitutional, null, and void. Any directive by the governor to dissolve or suspend elected local councils before the expiration of their tenure was deemed ultra vires,” he said.
He added that a reminder of this judgment, along with another interim order restraining the state government from interfering in council administration, had been served on the Speaker of the House of Assembly on Wednesday morning.
The chairmen called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, DSS, and NSCDC, to safeguard council assets and enforce the court’s rulings.
In response to the controversy, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie, defended the Assembly’s decision, stating that the findings of a panel of inquiry would determine the fate of the suspended officials.
