The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) has urged the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Samson Osagie, to advise the state governor, Monday Okpebholo “in accordance with the law, which, unfortunately, he has not displayed deep knowledge and understanding of” adding that “if, as he has shown that he is not too conversant with it, he should take a cue from or consult the learned Attorney General of the Federation.”
PDP made the call through a press statement by its Caretaker Committee Chairman in Edo State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi on Wednesday evening. According to Aziegbemi, while referring to a statement credited to Samson Osagie, “we have read the statement credited to the Attorney General of Edo State, Samson Osagie, in which he attempted to refute our call on the Federal Government(FG) to follow the constitution and apply the Supreme Court Judgment in the Local Government Autonomy case of AG, Federation V. AG Abia and 35 others, by withholding the allocation due to the Local Government Councils of Edo State which are being chaired by Senator Monday Okpebholo’s appointees rather than the duly elected Chairmen.
“Being in contempt of the Supreme Court – the Apex Court of the land, we also called on the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to commence contempt proceedings against the Edo State officials who are in disobedience of the Court Orders.
“We are rather surprised that Samson Osagie, who was recently reinstated from his suspension as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, will refer to our demand as ‘unusual and uninformed.'”
Aziegbemi quipped that the PDP’s position “tallies with, and reechoes what the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN stated in December, 2024 that the purported suspension of the elected Local Government Chairmen in Edo is ‘illegal and unconstitutional,’ and was unequivocal that it is in breach of the Supreme Court Judgment of July 11, 2024. Is the Attorney General of the Federation also uninformed?
“There is unanimity amongst lawyers and Judges that this is the correct position of the law. Committal for disobedience of any court order is a follow up action for anyone in disobedience. We expect Osagie to know this as it is elementary. One shudders at the kind of legal advice being offered to the Governor if the Attorney General can make such legal gaffes in his public statements.”
Going further, Aziegbemi charged, “it is essential to emphasize that the claims by Osagie that Okpebholo has not violated any laws related to local government structure in Edo State are misleading and inaccurate.
“The suspension of elected council chairmen and vice chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly is a clear violation of the constitution and the principles of democracy. The PDP will not stand idly by while the APC-led government in Edo State continues to undermine the rule of law and disregard the rights of the people.”
PDP reiterated its call for the Federal Government “to withhold statutory allocations to Edo State Councils until the democratically elected council chairmen and vice chairmen are reinstated” it also demanded “that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice takes immediate action to address this gross injustice.
“The people of Edo State deserve better than a government that disregards the constitution and disrespects the democratic process. We will continue to stand up for the rights of the people and fight against any attempt to undermine democracy in our state.”
