LAGOS POLICE LAUNCH INVESTIGATION AS JEWELLER ACCUSES ITS OFFICERS OF HARASSMENT. (PHOTO).
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in the strongest terms the illegal suspension of the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
On Tuesday, the State House of Assembly suspended the LG Chairmen following the directive of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had earlier written a petition to the House over the refusal of the chairmen to submit financial records of their local government to the state government.
In the letter, the governor, who described the LG chairmen’s refusal as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct, requested the House to look into the matter.
In a statement by the Edo PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, the party said that the chairmen and their vice were not given the opportunity to defend themselves describing the suspension as unconstitutional.
“How can a governor direct the state Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the Constitution and are not subordinates of the governor, the State Assembly, or any other arm of government?
“We are also aware that the chairmen and their vices weren’t even given the opportunity to be heard in their defence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped-up charges, in total disregard to the Constitution.
The PDP contended that Governor Okpebholo lacked the power to demand the financial statements of the LGA in the light of the Supreme Court judgment granting LGs autonomy.
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