Edo assembly violated court order by suspending LGA bosses, says ALGON chair

Newman Ugiagbe, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Edo, says the state house assembly violated a court order by suspending the chairpersons of the 18 LGAs.

Ugiagbe, also the chairman of Orhiomwon LGA, said Daniel Okungbowa, the chief judge of the state, had ruled that the governor and assembly lacked the power to suspend the councils’ chairpersons.

On Tuesday, the Edo house assembly suspended the chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.

NAN reports that Ugiagbe, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen on Wednesday, said the state assembly acted in contempt of court.

Ugiagbe said he and his colleagues would continue to carry out their lawful duties until the expiration of their tenure in September 2026.

He added that they reminded the speaker of a subsisting court order restraining government interference with their functions and assets, adding that the court also barred meddling in council administration.

He affirmed the chairpersons’ commitment to fulfilling their constitutional roles and urged security agencies to protect council assets and maintain order.

However, Samson Osagie, the Edo attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said local governments’ democratic structures had not been altered by the assembly.

“What’s clear is that the house has exercised its powers in the constitution pursuant to local government administration,” Osagie said.

“The chairmen better be advised that there is only one chief security officer in the state; that is the governor.”