- Edo State PDP chairman Tony Aziegbemi condemned the suspension of 18 local government chairmen, calling it a grave threat to democracy
- Aziegbemi criticized the suspension as unconstitutional and warned banks against complying with government directives to change council account signatories
The Edo State caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi, has condemned the suspension of 18 local government chairmen and their deputies in the state. He described the action as a grave threat to democracy in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists in Benin on Tuesday, Aziegbemi criticized the suspension for blatantly ignoring the judiciary and violating the constitution.
“This act undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent,” Aziegbemi stated. “It weakens our democratic system and legal foundation.”
He labelled the suspension an illegal attempt to remove elected officials, calling it a breach of Section 1(2) of the Constitution.
According to him, this act equates to an attempted coup against a fundamental component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The PDP chairman also cautioned commercial banks in the state against complying with directives from the government to alter account signatories of the affected councils. He alleged that Governor Okpebholo ordered the banks to change the signatures to access council funds.
Aziegbemi warned, “Local government chairmen are the rightful signatories to their councils’ accounts. Any bank that changes these signatures illegally will face legal action.”
Meanwhile, the legislative arms of Egor and Owan East local governments have impeached their respective chairmen and deputies. Acting chairmen have since been sworn in to oversee the councils.
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