Kassim Afegbua: Suspension of Edo LGA chairpersons is lawful

Kassim Afegbua, a member of the Edo local government administrative panel of inquiry, says the suspension of the chairpersons of the 18 LGs in the state is lawful.

Last week, 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.

But Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), faulted the decision of the Edo assembly, arguing that it lacked the powers to suspend the chairpersons who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Appearing on Arise Television on Sunday, Afegbua said the constitution gives powers to state assemblies to ensure that there is good governance in the country.

“We are following the relevant laws, local government laws of Edo as amended and we have taken decisions based on the provisions of that law. We are aware that the attorney-general made a statement about the removal which is contrary to what we did,” Afegbua said.

“The judgement (on financial autonomy) of the supreme court alone cannot be the only operating laws that will moderate the operations at the LGA level.”

In a statement on Monday, Ose Anenih, a PDP chieftain in Edo, said the action of the Edo government is capable of putting the state in crisis, adding that it is a rebellion against President Bola Tinubu.

“It is bewildering to see an APC governor—one of his own—leading this insurrection against both the Judiciary and the Presidency,” Anenih said.

“How can a state openly defy a Supreme Court ruling, dismiss the Attorney General’s directives, and undermine the President’s flagship policy?”