Edo State PDP Condemns Governor's Refusal to Comply with Court Judgements

Strategic Insights -

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo for defying multiple court judgements reinstating duly elected local government chairmen across the state. The party described the governor's actions as "flagrant lawlessness" and "a direct assault on the judiciary." The PDP warned that the governor's actions risk destabilizing the state and undermining democracy, as the state council offices are being illegally occupied despite the Supreme Court ruling that state governors cannot remove elected local government chairmen. The party also accused the governor of "emboldening impunity" and "treating judicial authority with contempt."

Key Takeaways:

  • The PDP has condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo's refusal to comply with multiple court judgements reinstating elected local government chairmen across the state.
  • The governor's actions have been described as "flagrant lawlessness" and "a direct assault on the judiciary" by the PDP.
  • Two high court rulings have delivered major legal setbacks to the state government, ordering the reinstatement of suspended local government chairmen and ruling that their impeachment was unconstitutional.
  • The PDP has warned that the erosion of local government governance has contributed to rising insecurity and worsening poverty in Edo state, and that this cannot be allowed to continue.
  • Senator Okpebholo's declaration by INEC as the winner of the September 21st Edo Governorship election is currently being challenged by PDP governorship candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
  • Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, PDP state chairman, accused the governor of "emboldening impunity" and "treating judicial authority with contempt."

Statistics:

  • 2 high court rulings delivered major legal setbacks to the Edo state government.
  • N1 million in costs awarded against councillors responsible for the unconstitutional impeachment of Hon. Zibiri Marvellous and Hon Benji Ojietu.
  • 1 Supreme Court judgement affirming local government autonomy.
  • 2 local government chairmen, Hon. Tajudeen Alade (Akoko-Edo) and Hon. Zibiri Marvellous (Etsako West), reinstated by court order.
  • 3 court orders directing the reinstatement of suspended council officials.

Sources:

  • According to the PDP, the Edo State House of Assembly's crisis over the removal of elected local government officials is a direct contravention of a Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy and the public position of the Attorney General of the Federation, who condemned such suspensions as unconstitutional.
  • [Source: Supreme Court judgement affirming local government autonomy]
  • [Source: Attorney General of the Federation's public statement condemning suspensions as unconstitutional]
  • [Source: Edo State High Court rulings ordering reinstatement of suspended council officials]