The House of Assembly’s decision to suspend the chairmen of Edo State’s 18 local governments has drawn criticism from the People’s Democratic Party, or PDP.
Anthony Aziegbemi, the state PDP chairman, said in a statement released Tuesday in Benin that the action was unconstitutional and unlawful.
According to Aziegbemi, the suspension ignored a recent decision made by Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State.
He claimed that the suspension was a flagrant breach of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which upheld local governments’ independence and autonomy as stipulated in the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution.
“How can a governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.
Recalls that all 18 elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen were suspended by the State House of Assembly due to allegations of serious misconduct and insubordination.
Local council chairmen are not subordinates of the governor, the State Assembly, or any other branch of government, according to the state PDP chairman.
He voiced his alarm at the utter disrespect for the Constitution and court decisions.
“We are also aware that the Chairmen and their vice chairmen were not given the opportunity to defend themselves.
”They were suspended unheard, based on watery, trumped-up charges,” Aziegbemi said.
In addition to being unlawful, he emphasized, such acts constituted an outright attack on democracy and the rule of law.
Aziegbemi claimed that by executing the unlawful conduct, the Speaker and the whole Edo House of Assembly had blatantly gone above their constitutional responsibilities.
In observance of the rule of law and democratic governance ideals, he encouraged the Assembly to promptly revoke its ruling.
He made it clear that following the Constitution could not be compromised.
In addition, he urged the Federation’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice to step in, claiming that the state government’s actions were a violation of the Constitution and a security risk.
