The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the State House of Assembly to recall the 18 local government chairmen who were suspended in December 2024, citing the need for effective grassroots governance and alleging financial impropriety in their absence.
Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, told reporters in Benin City on Monday that the continued suspension of the chairmen and vice chairmen had led to alleged illegal financial dealings within the local government administrations. He further alleged that the initial suspension violated Section 19 of the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 (amended 2002), claiming it lacked due process.
“From September 4, 2023, when the elected council executives were sworn in, until December 16, 2024, when the crisis started, the councils were vibrant and functional. The local governments effectively delivered governance and essential services to the people before Governor Monday Okpebholo, barely a month in office, ordered their suspension,” Aziegbemi stated.
The PDP Chairman condemned the suspension as unlawful, arguing that the Assembly acted on unsubstantiated allegations of gross misconduct without affording the chairmen a fair hearing. He pointed to a July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy and prohibiting state authorities from dissolving elected council members, a ruling he claims the state Chief Judge referenced. Aziegbemi also reported that council activities have been paralyzed, with chairmen allegedly facing attacks upon attempting to resume their duties.
The PDP is further calling on the Attorney General of the Federation to institute contempt proceedings against Edo’s Attorney General for allegedly defying the Supreme Court ruling and to halt all federal allocations to Edo State through the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC).
“There is no approved budget in any local council, yet funds are being spent illegally without due process in contracts, purchases, and public projects,” Aziegbemi alleged, adding that elected council officials, excluding selectively favored councilors, have had their salaries unilaterally stopped by the Okpebholo administration for the past three months. He accused the government of nepotism and financial strangulation of non-compliant officials.
In response to these allegations, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, dismissed the PDP’s claims, asserting that the Supreme Court’s judgment did not invalidate the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 as amended. He clarified that the governor only reported the chairmen to the Assembly, which acted within its legal purview.
Ohonbamu maintained that the chairmen were removed by their own councilors, following due process. He also refuted claims of unpaid council staff and dismissed the allegation that Governor Okpebholo had shared N30 billion in council allocations with party members as baseless propaganda.
