The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the suspension of all elected chairmen and vice-chairmen in the 18 local government councils by the Edo State House of Assembly.
This is how the party described the suspension as “unconstitutional” and “null and void.”
The assembly accepted a petition moved by Governor Monday Okpebholo, who had earlier demanded local government chairmen to submit financial statements.
In a strongly worded statement, the Acting Chairman of the Edo State PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, described the suspension as an abuse of power.
“This suspension is nothing more than a desperate attempt to silence the opposition and undermine the autonomy of local governments. “It is politically motivated, it is unconstitutional and it is dead from the beginning.”
The statement further called on the judiciary to intervene and uphold the rule of law, urging civil society to resist what the party described as a “reckless attack on democratic institutions.”
The PDP also vowed to challenge the suspension in court, calling for an immediate reversal of what it describes as a “blatant attack on the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Also lending his voice to the condemnation, Barr. Anthony Ehilebo, PDP leader and special advisor to Barr on media matters. Asue Ighodalo criticized the suspension as illegal and politically motivated.
Speaking on a Lagos-based television program on Tuesday night, Ehilebo commented: “This all started when the governor asked the LGA chairmen to present financial statements to him.
“Of course, you have no legal support to make such a demand; and everyone will recognize that it goes against the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of local governments.
“In fact, the governor and the assembly members are in contempt of the Supreme Court.
“The alleged suspension of local government chairmen by the state assembly is absurd.
“This is a witch hunt. The LGA presidents are all members of the PDP. The suspension is unknown by law and will be ignored.”