The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) has called on the Edo State Government to reinstate elected local government council chairmen and their vice across the state in the light of recent court rulings in that direction.
Making the call Tony Aziegbemi, the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee in the state, said, “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.”
According to Aziegbemi, “consistent with our position, the High Court has now begun to deliver rulings and judgments in favour of the duly elected local government cl) lllllhairmen. 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.”
He asserted that 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.”
The PDP believed that “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.”
Discussion about this post