The 18 suspended local government chairmen in Edo State have rejected their suspension by the State House of Assembly, declaring the move unconstitutional and void.
The chairmen, suspended on Tuesday for two months over alleged misconduct, stated during a press briefing on Wednesday in Benin City that the Assembly has no authority to suspend or remove them from office.
Led by Newman Ugiagbe, Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government and head of the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), the council chiefs condemned the suspension as a violation of court orders. Ugiagbe emphasized that their tenure, which began on September 4, 2023, is constitutionally protected and will not expire until 2025.
He cited previous rulings by the Edo State High Court, which barred the state government and the Assembly from interfering in the councils’ administration. According to him, the court had issued interim orders restraining the governor, the Assembly, and their agents from dissolving, suspending, or meddling in the councils’ affairs.
Ugiagbe referenced a landmark Supreme Court judgment in a case between the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Attorney-General of Abia State, which removed the powers of governors and assemblies to interfere with local government administration through executive orders or state laws.
“From the foregoing,” Ugiagbe stated, “we, the 18 elected council chairmen, remain the legitimate executive heads of our respective local governments. The suspension announced by the Assembly at the request of Governor Monday Okpebholo is ultra vires, unconstitutional, and amounts to contempt of court.”
The ALGON chairman called on security agencies to protect local government assets and deploy personnel to all 18 secretariats to ensure smooth operations. He argued that such measures are necessary to uphold the Constitution and prevent any further encroachment on their rights.
The suspension, announced during Tuesday’s plenary session, was based on a petition by Governor Okpebholo accusing the council chairmen of gross misconduct and insubordination. The governor alleged that the chairmen failed to submit financial account statements to the State Asset Verification Committee.
The suspended chairmen, however, vowed to continue performing their constitutional duties, describing the Assembly’s action as a political overreach with no legal basis. Further developments are anticipated as the situation unfolds.