Obey Court Orders – PDP Calls On Edo Govt

…Reinstate, return duly elected LG council executives now

…Hon. Maria Edeko: exemplary display of integrity

This press conference is imperative to update the general public and other stakeholders on critical issues affecting grassroots governance in Edo State, particularly in light of recent court rulings reinstating duly elected Local Government Chairmen and their vice across the State.

When the current Edo State Government, led by Senator Monday Okpebholo, began its unprecedented onslaught against duly elected Local Government executives, including Chairmen and their vice, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately raised the alarm about the illegality of their actions and their flagrant disregard for the rule of law.

They however persisted in their resort to unconstitutionality, abusing and making a nonsense of the democratic process, which clearly outlines the structure of governance across the federal, state, and local levels, as well as the principle of separation of powers.

Consistent with our position, the High Court has now begun to deliver rulings and judgments in favour of the duly elected Local Government Chairmen. The first of these was secured by the Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Hon. Tajudeen Alade, who has been reinstated by the court.

In the declarative ruling, the presiding judge, Justice B. A. Okoh, directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to provide the elected council chairman with the needed security to immediately resume office.

The Court found that there was indeed non-compliance with the procedure stipulated under Section 19 of the Edo State local government law, and that the duly elected Council chairman was not given fair hearing before his removal and thereby set aside the removal and ordered his immediate restoration and return to office.

Also, just last week, a second judgment was delivered in favour of the elected Chairman and Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government, Hon. Zibiri Marvelous and Hon. Benji Ojietu.

In the ruling, Justice O.M. Obayuwana also declared the impeachment proceedings against Marvelous and Ojietu null and void, stating that the process did not comply with Section 19 of the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 (as amended in 2002).

The Court granted all declaratory reliefs 1 – 8 as claimed by the Claimants, including nullifying the impeachment of the claimants as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council and nullifying the appointment and swearing in of the 1st defendant as acting Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council.

 The Court also ordered the immediate reinstatement of the Claimants to their offices as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council of Edo State together with the rights, privileges, paraphernalia and perquisites of the said offices as well as a perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants either by themselves agents, privies, representatives or associates or persons acting for or through them and or deriving authority from them from preventing the Claimants from performing the functions of the office of the Local Government Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council of Edo State.

Justice O. M. Obayuwana also ordered the 8 Defendant, the Inspector General of Police to provide protection to the Claimants for the peaceful resumption and discharge of their duties and function as bestowed in their offices as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Etsako West Local Government Council respectively until the end of their three year tenure in office in September 2026.

In the judgement for Etsako West, the court had to award a judgement cost of one million naira each against the councillors who were used to carry out the unlawful act to show the extent of the disdain for the illegal and unconstitutional acts carried out by the Okpebholo-led state government.

While we commend the judiciary for its fairness and unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution, we call on the Edo State Government to immediately end its continued violation of the Constitution and allow the duly elected Local Government Chairmen, whose mandates have now been affirmed by the courts, to return to their offices and resume the duties and responsibilities for which they were elected by the people.

Just as has been the case with these two local councils, all other local governments that were assailed by the state government and their cohorts will be overturned one after the other. It is therefore in the best interest of the Okpebholo-led government to begin retreating from their illegality and allow these duly elected local council executives to perform their duties in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is the failure of government at the local government level that has contributed to the worsening insecurity and growing poverty in our dear State. This key tier of government, which is closest to the people, has been stifled, leaving citizens without governance at the grassroots.

Okpebholo and the Edo State Government must immediately restore and reinstate the duly elected Local Government executives to continue effective governance at the grassroots level. This is essential for the state to thrive, ensuring security, development, and prosperity for all Edo people.

We had in the past, debunked the false claims by the APC that 17 Local Government Chairmen have defected from the PDP to the APC and challenged them to release the names of the elected PDP Council Chairman who has defected. But up till this day, nothing has been heard from any quarters of the APC in this regard.

It only but tells you the quality of people in the APC and their level of desperation in creating a false sense of firm political grip in the State. But Edo people are politically aware and cannot be deceived by their political theatrics.

In a special way, we want to commend Hon. Maria Edeko for her exemplary display of integrity and courage, stepping down from her position as Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.

It is gladdening to note that a time integrity is fast becoming a rarity in our political space, Maria Edeko has stood tall and distinguished herself as a beacon of honor. The PDP, her constituents and indeed all Edo people are proud of her.

History will be kind to her. She will be remembered as one of the few who put principle, integrity and service before self-interest.

The PDP remains united, undeterred and fully resolute to exploring all legal processes to reclaiming its mandate which was brazenly stolen during the September 2024 governorship election, and nothing will stop us in this regard.

Dr. Tony Aziegbemi,

Chairman,

Edo PDP Caretaker Committee