The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Samson Osagie, to properly advise Governor Monday Okpebholo in line with constitutional provisions, accusing the governor of lacking a deep understanding of the law. The party further suggested that if Osagie himself struggles with legal interpretation, he should seek guidance from the Attorney General of the Federation.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Edo State, criticized Osagie’s recent remarks dismissing the party’s call for the Federal Government to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling on Local Government Autonomy. According to Aziegbemi, Edo’s local government allocations should be withheld until the elected local government chairmen are reinstated, instead of funds being controlled by Okpebholo’s appointees.
Aziegbemi reminded Osagie that the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024 ruling explicitly declared the suspension of elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen illegal and unconstitutional. He accused the Edo State government of contempt of court and urged the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to initiate contempt proceedings against those disregarding the ruling.
The PDP leader expressed shock that Osagie, who was recently reinstated after suspension, would describe the party’s position as “unusual and uninformed.” He questioned whether Osagie was suggesting that even Fagbemi, the nation’s chief legal officer, was uninformed, given that the Attorney General of the Federation had already condemned the suspension of elected chairmen as unconstitutional.
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He further criticized Osagie’s defense of Okpebholo, calling it misleading and legally inaccurate. He accused the APC-led government in Edo State of deliberately undermining democracy, arguing that the Edo State House of Assembly’s suspension of local government officials was a direct violation of the constitution.
The PDP reiterated its demand for the Federal Government to block local government allocations to Edo State until the elected chairmen and vice chairmen are restored. It also urged Attorney General Fagbemi to take immediate legal action against the Edo State government for its blatant disregard of a Supreme Court ruling.
The party warned that the people of Edo State deserve better than a government that disrespects democracy and the rule of law. It vowed to continue pushing for justice, ensuring that constitutional provisions are upheld, and preventing what it described as an attempt to hijack local governance through illegal appointments.
