Call Okpebholo To Order – Edo PDP Tasks Tinubu

By Raphael Okhiria

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State Chapter, has dragged Governor Monday Okpebholo Tuesday called before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged attempts at exterminating constitutional democracy in the state by the governor.

Chairman, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Anthony Aziegbemi, at a media briefing on Tuesday in Benin City, disclosed that the call to order request followed the state governor’s alleged disregard for the rule of law.

The PDP also called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the judiciary, the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police and all relevant security authorities to urgently intervene in the ugly happenings in the state so as to restore order and the rule of law in the State.

Aziegbemi who expressed worry over the way and manner the governor had continued to harrass the 18 PDP Council Chairmen after their unlawful suspension by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Governor accused Okpebholo of extermination of constitutional democracy, lawlessness, and blatant disregard for the rule of law.

According to him, the Edo State Government under the leadership of Monday Okpebholo had made several attempts at exterminating constitutional democracy and called on President Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, the judiciary, the National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police and all relevant security authorities to urgently intervene and restore order and the rule of law in the state.

He noted that this was necessary before events spiral out of control, which could lead to chaos and anarchy in the state and eventual breakdown of law and order.
Aziegbemi said, “We are deeply worried that if urgent and decisive action is not taken to address this lawlessness and restore order within the system, we may witness an escalation that could result in crisis, anarchy, and chaos and which presents a clear and imminent danger of a breakdown of law and order in Edo State.

“As you are aware, recent events have brought to light the unlawful suspension of the duly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils in Edo State purportedly by the State House of Assembly, following the directive of the Governor-select Monday Okpebholo.

“The illegal suspension, carried out on December 17, 2024, was executed under the false pretense of ‘gross misconduct and insubordination’, without fair hearing and under the misplaced and mistaken belief that the Chairmen and their Vice Chairmen are subordinate to the Governor, who premised his directive on Section 10(1) of the Local Government Law of Edo State which has since been voided by the judgment of the Chief Judge of Edo State.

“It should be noted that no complaint was made against the Vice Chairmen and the House of Assembly still proceeded to suspend them and this they claimed to do under Section 20.of the same law, which did not give the Assembly any power to suspend any Local Government Official.”

While expressing dismay that despite the clear and binding judgment of the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who upheld that the Edo State Government and the Edo State House of Assembly have no legal right to suspend or dissolve elected local government councils, “the state government and their agents proceeded to enforce their individual interests and capriciously and illegally and in breach of court injunctions in purportedly suspending the council chairmen. “This they did without regard to the constitutional, legal, social, security, political and economic implications and consequences.

“The State Government also disregarded the advice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu given through the Attorney General of the Federation on this matter. The Attorney General of the Federation was emphatic and insisted that elected local government council chairmen and their vice cannot be dissolved, removed or suspended without following the due process of law, through the Councillors.

“However, Okpebholo and his handlers jettisoned the advisory, deploying thugs and non-state actors who have been moving from council to council with whips and dangerous weapons to illegally enforce the illegal suspension of the Local Government Chairmen despite the prevailing legal position on this issue and in utter breach of express court orders.”

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