The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Senator Monday Okpebholo’s administration of violating the law by appointing local government officials instead of recognizing elected chairmen. The party is calling on the Federal Government to withhold statutory allocations to local councils in the state until the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy is upheld.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, the party criticized Edo State Attorney General Samson Osagie for dismissing their concerns as “uninformed.” They argued that their position aligns with the December 2024 statement by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who declared the suspension of elected local government chairmen in Edo “illegal and unconstitutional.”
The PDP insists that the suspension of local government chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly violates the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy. They are demanding that the Attorney General of the Federation initiate contempt proceedings against state officials who have disregarded the court’s decision.
“We are surprised that Osagie, recently reinstated from suspension, would dismiss our call for constitutional compliance,” the statement read. “There is unanimity among legal experts that the law is clear: disobeying a court order warrants contempt proceedings.”
The PDP also accused the Edo State government of misleading the public about the status of elected local government officials. They questioned the legal authority under which the chairmen were suspended, labeling the investigative panel set up by Okpebholo as a “kangaroo group” designed to target political opponents.
“Osagie’s attempt to justify the suspension of council chairmen on allegations of corruption is ironic, considering he himself was accused of financial misconduct before being quietly reinstated,” the statement added.
The PDP reiterated its demand that the Federal Government suspend allocations to Edo State’s local councils until the elected chairmen are reinstated.
“The people of Edo State deserve a government that upholds democracy and the rule of law,” the party stated. “We will not stand by while the APC-led government continues to undermine democratic principles.”