Edo LGC Chairmen Resume Office After Court Order
…As Esan South-East LG Chairman, Imhandegbelo salutes judiciary
By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State local government chairmen has resumed duties following a High Court ruling nullifying their suspension, hailed as a victory for democracy and local autonomy
Among those returning were the chairmen of Esan South-East, Esan North-East, and Etsako West local government areas, who received votes of confidence from their respective councillors.
However, this development, has continued to generate reactions from members of the public, who berated the governor over the suspension order.
The Supreme Court judgment in Abuja recently, bolstered by a subsequent Edo State High Court ruling in Benin, has validated the mandate of the 18 council chairmen.
The two judgments restrained the Executive and State House of Assembly from interfering in the affairs of the local government councils in the country, thereby safeguarding democratic principles and upholding the rule of law.
This legal affirmation fortified the Chairmen’s positions, thwarting perceived attempts to undermine democratic processes.
A lawyer and Special Adviser on Media to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo 2024 gubernatorial candidate Asue Ighodalo, Anthony Ehilebo described the decision as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s independence.
“The judiciary has once again demonstrated its role as a safeguard for democracy,” Ehilebo said. “The illegal suspension of these chairmen violated their constitutional rights and undermined the autonomy of local governments.”
The reinstatements are seen as a political setback for Governor Monday Okpebholo, marking his first significant loss since assuming office. The suspensions had drawn widespread criticism, with many accusing the state government of leveraging unconstitutional powers to sideline opposition-aligned officials.
However, the State Government continues to double down on its position that the Chairmen and Vice-chairmen were lawfully suspended. “An injunction cannot restrain an action that has already been completed”, opined Kassim Afegbua on AIT’s television show Democracy Today. Afegbua is a member of the Edo State Investigative panel set up by Gov. Okpebholo to look into the allegations he brought against the chairmen.
Observers have also lauded the federal government for its neutral, pro-LGA autonomy stance. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi have been praised for refusing to endorse what many viewed as an anti-democratic move. Their non-interference has been interpreted as a commitment to upholding democratic norms across all levels of government.
In a telephone interview with The9jaTREND, Hon. Louis Imhandegbelo, chairman of Esan South-East local government council, expressed gratitude to the judiciary and his councilors for their support, stating:
“We are grateful to the judiciary for standing firm on the side of justice. I particularly thank my fellow councillors for the unanimous vote of confidence. Our focus now is to deliver on the mandate given to us by the people.”
Analysts believe that the Supreme Court’s July 11th judgment, which upheld constitutional protections for local government councils, will likely influence similar disputes in the future, reinforcing Nigeria’s democratic framework.
