December 23, (THEWILL) – The political turf game between Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki assumed another dimension last Wednesday when 18 local government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen elected in September 2023 were summarily suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly.
According to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, the decision followed the alleged failure of the council chairmen to submit their yearly stewardship report to the state government. Adopting the resolution for their suspension at the plenary held on Tuesday, the Assembly directed heads of the various legislative arms of the councils to oversee the administration of their respective LGAs for the next two months.
The suspension of the council’s chairmen and their deputies was a sequel to an earlier written petition to the House by Governor Monday Okpebholo stating the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the Asset Verification Committee set up by the state government.
In the letter, the governor who described their action as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the intervention of the lawmakers.
But on Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stopped both the governor and the Assembly dead on their tracks. The AGF declared the suspension of elected local government chairmen and their deputies in Edo State as unconstitutional and unlawful.
The AGF condemned the action, stating that the suspension violates constitutional provisions.
He asserted that only local government legislatures have the authority to suspend elected council chairmen or their deputies. But the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi punctured the arguments and authority exercised by the Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the AGF stressed that the removal from office or suspension of any elected LG official in the country, is the prerogative of Councillors in the said LGA.
The Justice Minister said his position was based on the July 11 judgement of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country.
He said, “One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, the Governor has no right to remove any local government chairman.
“That much I know. If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware that removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house.”
Earlier, the suspension had immediately attracted reactions from stakeholders in the state.
The state Attorney General, Dr Samson Osagie, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, State Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemi, State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, and the Media Aide to former Governor Obaseki, Crusoe Osagie, took turns to express their opinions on the vexed matter.
According to Aziegbemi, the suspension was unconditional, null and void. He said the suspension, ” directed by the governor 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 Federal and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, which affirmed the autonomy and independence of local governments as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said by their action, the Speaker and members of the Assembly have overstepped their constitutional mandate and urged the Chairmen to report for work at their offices, arguing that the Chairmen were elected as the governor by the people of their respective local government areas.
On their part, the 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State, on Wednesday in Benin declared their suspension by the State House of Assembly as null and void and vowed to see out their three- year tenure.
Speaking on their behalf, the ALGON Chairman, and also Chairman of Orhiomwon LG, Newman Ugiagbe, said the Assembly acted against a court ruling, adding that they would remain in office till September 2026 because they were elected. Ugiagbe noted that the Chairmen had taken the matter to court and Justice Daniel Okungbowa ruled that the governor and Assembly lacked powers to suspend them. He said they reminded the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, of a court order restraining the government from interfering with their constitutional functions or council assets. He said that their tenure runs from September 2023 to September 2026. He affirmed their commitment to fulfilling their constitutional roles, maintaining that no authority could prevent them from serving their councils.
The chairmen urged security agencies to protect council assets and ensure law and order in the 18 local government areas of the state. Using a letter purportedly issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Community And Chieftaincy Affairs, titled “Re-Utilisation of Special Security/ Environmental Funds,” signed by Mrs G.U Obazee for the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and addressed to the ALGON Chairman, calling for non-utilization of N800 million security and environmental funds as directed by the governor, Crusoe Osagie alleged that “ the illegal suspension of 18 Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly, at the behest of Governor Okpebholo, was a charade organized to enable the governor access and the N800 million monthly special security funds, the environmental funds, and other funds in the local governments’ accounts.”
He said, “The Edo State House of Assembly was subsequently co-opted into the scheme through a combination of threats and inducements. This culminated in yesterday’s sitting, where the 18 council chairmen were illegally suspended, paving the way for the governor to access the N800 million monthly special security funds, environmental funds, and other monies in the local governments’ accounts.
He recalled that revenue to the State Government plunged by over 75 percent, nosediving from N8 billion to about N2 billion monthly, as a result of the lack of transparency in the revenue collection and administration system under the Monday Okpebholo-led government.
“The slump was said to be linked to the turf wars over revenue collection by those hired by Okpebholo and used in the 2024 governorship election who were embroiled in a fierce battle for control of the various revenue points in the State. Okpebholo had announced a temporary suspension of revenue collection, leaving the State without revenue for several weeks.
“Desperate for funds following the revenue slump, the governor appears to have resorted to exploiting local government finances which is why he orchestrated their illegal suspension to grant him unfettered access to these funds.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is reported to have invited the Chairmen and Vice Chairman for questioning.
The invitation, dated December 17, 2024 was contained in a letter signed by the EFCC Director of Investigation, Abdulkarim Chukkol. The letter, addressed to the Secretary to the State Government, was also copied to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In his reaction, State Attorney General, Dr Samson Osagie, said local governments democratic structures had not been altered by the Assembly but added that the Assembly merely exercised its powers on a pending matter.
” What’s clear is that the House has exercised its powers in the constitution pursuant to local government administration, ” he said and added that. The Chairmen better be advised that there is only one Chief Security Officer in the state, that is the governor,” he said.
But on Friday, a High Court sitting in Benin city, the Edo State capital, granted an application to restore the suspended Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Govt Councils, to their offices.
Ruling in an ex parte motion, the court restrained the Edo State Government, the Governor, the State Attorney-General and other defendants in the suit, from giving effect to the House of Assembly resolution purportedly suspending the Council chairmen and their deputies.
Following this ruling, the LGA Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen resumed in their offices today, Monday.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
