A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the House of Assembly and other parties in a suit filed by the 18 suspended local council chairmen in the state to maintain status quo.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, gave the order after counsel to the plaintiffs, Anderson Asemota, moved a motion ex-parte to the effect. Earlier, Asemota, while moving the motion, told the court that the plaintiffs, who are council chairmen, were suspended by the state’s House of Assembly and their resolution transmitted to Okpebholo.

The lawyer said the motion sought an order directing the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo as of December 15, 2024. He based his argument on the grounds that the Supreme Court, in July 2024, held that governors had no power to suspend elected council chair.

He alleged that the suspension of the chairmen stemmed from their disagreement with the governor to operate a joint account against the apex court’s decision.

Asemota submitted that to ventilate their rights as enshrined in the Constitution, the plaintiffs had app roached the court in order not to resolve to self-help.

He said they were asking the court to make an order of status quo from December 15, 2024, and for the governor not to give effect to the Assembly’s resolution.

“Extreme urgency is required my lord,” he said. He told the court that the order suspending the 18 chairmen was made on December 17, 2024. The lawyer said the Supreme Court judgment, the Edo State High Court order restraining the defendants and an interview granted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, regarding the suspension, were all exhibited in the motion.

Asemota, who said that Section 2(1) of the Constitution confers the power on the court to make the order, prayed the court to grant their reliefs. Justice Nwite, who said extreme carefulness needed to be exercised in granting the reliefs, said: “I will only make an order for parties to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit.”

Ruling, the judge said: “After listening to counsel to the applicants and going through the affidavit evidence, including the written address, I hereby make an order that parties should maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

ALSO, a rights group, Concerned Civil Society Organisations in Edo State, yesterday, described the suspension of the council chairmen by the Edo House of Assembly as unfounded in the history of democracy.

Briefing newsmen on the recent happenings in the state, following the suspension of the 18 council chairmen based on the letter of petition from the governor the spokesman for the rights group, Ogbidi Emmanuel, said the suspension and impeachment of the council chairmen didn’t follow legislative procedure.