Suspended LG Council Chairmen, Deputies Not Given Fair Hearing – Edo PDP, Calls on House to Rescind Action

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The People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State has accused the state House of Assembly and the state government of not giving the 18 local government chairmen and their deputies, all members of the party, the opportunity to defend themselves before they were slammed with two months suspension on what it called “watery trumped-up charges”.
In a statement Tuesday night, the state chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, and the entire Assembly “clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action”. It therefore called on them to immediately reverse the decision, in respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.
The party reiterated that the Constitution remained supreme, “and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law”.
Dr. Aziegbemi said “The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest terms the illegal suspension of the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State by the Edo State House of Assembly, following the directive of Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“We want to clearly state that this action is unconstitutional, null, and void. The illegal suspension is a blatant disregard of the recent ruling of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and the Supreme Court’s decision, in a suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“How can a governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the Constitution and are not subordinates of the Governor, the State Assembly, or any other arm of government?
“We are also aware that the Chairmen and their vices weren’t even given the opportunity to be heard in their defence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped-up charges, in total disregard to the Constitution”.
The PDP therefore directed the council chairmen and their vice chairmen “to report to their councils tomorrow to carry on with their normal duties”. The party also We also urged the Attorney General and minister of justice of the federation to call Governor Okpebholo to order “as his action is not only in breach of the constitution but a threat to security”.