From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The embattled 18 local government council chairmen and vice chairmen suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly for alleged insubordination and gross misconduct, yesterday, said that they would continue to carry out their functions in office pending the expiration of their tenure in September 2026.
Chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Newman Ugiagbe, who addressed journalists in Benin on behalf of the local government council chairmen, said they were duly elected by their various local governments in September last year and were constitutionally bound to vacate office in September 2026.
“From the forgoing, the 18 local government chairmen elected in the election of September 2, 2023, and sworn into office on September 4, 2023, remain the 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 explained that the 18 local government chairmen had, through their lawyer, Ogaga Ovrawah (SAN) & Sons, served on the Edo Governor and 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.
He reiterated that a reminder was served on the speaker in the early hours of December 17, 2024, wherein he was also intimated of another suit instituted against the Edo State Government, the Governor of Edo State & Others in Suit No: B/3070S/2024 by Orhionmwon Local Government Council & 17 Ors.
Ugiagbe also noted that the state ALGON chairman, referenced similar Supreme Court Judgment in Attorney General of Federation V. Attorney General of Abia State & 35 Ors (2024) LPELR-62576(SC), wherein it emphatically obliterated the powers of the 36 state Governors/Houses of Assembly or acting through their privies to dissolve, or interfere with the local government administration or management, using state powers derivable from laws enacted by the State Houses of Assembly or Executive Orders.
He stressed that from the foregoing, it is given that the action of the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in response to the request from Governor 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.
Ugiagbe, therefore, called on the security agencies to help protect their various council secretariats from possible attacks.