Eighteen local government chairmen and their deputies who were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly have vowed to carry out their duties unhindered until the expiration of their tenure in September 2026.
The LGA chairmen and their vice chairmen were suspended by the Assembly for alleged gross misconduct.
Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) who is also the chairman of Orhionmwon local government area, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, made the declaration while addressing journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Benin City on behalf of his colleagues.
Ugiagbe said the chairmen were duly elected by their various local governments in September 2023, stressing that they enjoy the constitutional backing until September 2026 when their tenures will expire.
“From the forgoing, the 18 local government chairmen elected in the election of September 2nd 2023 and sworn into office on September 4th 2023, remain the Executive Chairmen of our respective local Government Councils and we are going on with our constitutional responsibility as the chief executive officers of our Councils”, Ugiagbe said.
He added that the 18 chairmen had through their lawyer, Ogaga Ovrawah (SAN) & Sons served Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly.
“A Notice of Judgment in Suit No. B/25/0S/2U24: Hon. Newman Oghomwen Ugiagbe & 17 Ors” delivered by the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State High Court of Justice wherein he granted the following orders:
“A declaration that Section 10(1) of the Edo State local Government Law, 2000 conflicts with the provisions of Section 7(1) and (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). And thus unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever .
“To the extent that it provides that upon the 1st Defendant’s action, request or otherwise, the Edo State House of Assembly by its resolution so direct the 1st” Defendants action to dissolve all of the democratically elected 18 Local Government Councils of Edo State of which the Claimants are Chairmen on or before the expiration/lapse of the tenure of three (3) years stipulated under the said Edo State Local Government Law, 2000.”
“(ii) A declaration the tenure of the Claimants are statutorily set at three (3) years with effect from the date they took their respective oaths of office, specifically from 4th of September, 2023 and therefore are entitled to hold office for the duration of three years and in accordance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) — (3) of the Edo State Local Government, 2000”.
He reiterated that a reminder was served on the Speaker in the early hours of 17th December, 2024 wherein he was also intimated of another suit instituted against Edo State Government, the Governor of Edo State. & Others in Suit No: B/3070S/2024 by Orhionmwon Local Government Council & 17.
He added, “The High Court of Justice No. 2, Benin City granted an Interim Order restraining the defendants therein from “interfering with, obstructing and disturbing the Claimants exercise of their Constitutional rights over all assets and funds allocated to them from the Federation Account” and, also “restrained the defendants from suspending, removing, redeploying, meddling or in any manner interfering with them in the administration and management of their Councils.”
Ugiagbe, while referencing similar Supreme Court Judgment in Attorney General of Federation V. Attorney General of Abia State & 35 Ors (2024) LPELR-62576(SC) wherein it emphatically obliterate the powers of the 36 State Governors/Houses of Assembly or acting through their privies to dissolve, or interfere in Local Government administration or management, using state powers derivable from laws enacted by the State Houses of Assembly (any how so called) or Executive orders/other actions (any how so called), quoted that from the foregoing, it is given that the action of the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday 17th December, 2024 in response to the request from Governor Monday Okpebholo, suspending the Chairmen/Vice Chairman is ultra vires and therefore a nullity because it is based on nothing in the eyes of the Law. It is also a contempt against the order of the court.
He however called on the security agencies to protect their various LGA secretariats from possible attacks.
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