Hundreds of young people, identifying themselves as Concerned Edo Youths, staged a protest at the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) on Monday, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the eighteen local government chairmen and their deputies.
The chairmen were initially suspended in December following allegations of failing to submit their financial records. The protesters allege that the continued suspension, which extends beyond the initial two-month period, has created a vacuum that has fueled illegality, panic, and violence within the affected local government areas.
The chairmen were suspended on December 17th, 2024, after a request from Governor Monday Okpebholo citing their alleged failure to provide statements of account dating back to September 2024.
Addressing the lawmakers at the EDHA complex, the Coordinator of the Concerned Edo Youth, Comrade Joseph Gbale, emphasized that while the initial suspension may not have been a violation of due process, the extended period of suspension without explanation has left the people in the dark.
“It is regrettable that both the Edo State Government and the House of Assembly have not mustered the courage to accept the truth and uphold the rule of law but continued to perpetrate illegality, and this has caused violence and panic in our various councils,” Gbale stated.
The protesting youths issued a seven-day ultimatum to the House, demanding the public release of the findings of the committee established to investigate the alleged insubordination of the suspended chairmen. They further demanded transparency regarding whether the committee invited the accused chairmen and their deputies to provide their own accounts in the spirit of fair hearing and natural justice.
“The house must within seven days present to the Edo people the outcome of the committee report that was set up to investigate the supposed case of insubordination of our council chairmen.”
Comrade Joseph Gbale said, adding, “The House must tell the Edo people if the said committee invited the accused chairmen and vice to any of their sittings to also hear from them in the spirit of natural justice and fair hearing.”
Gbale concluded, “The house must, as a matter of urgency, lift up the constitutional suspension, which did not follow due process as the said two months have long expired, and invalidate the purported and illegal impeachment carried out by disgruntled and self-serving individuals.”
Hon. Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo I, received the protesters on behalf of the House leadership and assured them that their concerns would be discussed and addressed. The House promised to respond to the demands in due course.
However, Mr. Lucky Eseigbe, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented a different perspective. He stated that in addition to multiple legal challenges filed against the state government by the suspended officials, many of the chairmen have reportedly absconded and failed to respond to invitations from security agencies to answer questions related to allegations of misappropriating over N90 billion. He clarified that any chairman cleared of wrongdoing would be permitted to resume their duties.