Local government chairmen remain suspended, as Edo govt. defies AGF

The brewing constitutional crisis in Edo State took a dramatic turn on Monday as Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State House of Assembly doubled down on their suspension of all 18 local government chairmen, openly defying a High Court order reversing the suspension. The move also challenges President Bola Tinubu’s celebrated push for local government autonomy, marked by a landmark Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.

Last Friday, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo High Court nullified the suspension and restrained the state government and other entities from interfering in council affairs pending a substantive hearing.

READ MORE: FG sets up committee to enforce LG autonomy

Despite this, Governor Okpebholo and the Assembly have persisted with their actions, sparking outrage and warnings of a looming breakdown of law and order.

President Tinubu’s administration scored a major victory in July with a Supreme Court judgement affirming the financial and administrative independence of local councils, curtailing decades of state government overreach. However, Edo’s brazen defiance threatens to undermine this flagship policy, raising questions about the unity within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The crisis erupted when Governor Okpebholo issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding financial statements from local council chairmen—a move widely criticised as an overreach into their autonomy.

READ MORE: PDP slams unconstitutional suspension of Edo council chairs

Following their refusal, the Assembly swiftly suspended all chairmen and their deputies, citing “gross misconduct” under a provision of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000). This law had already been declared unconstitutional in a separate High Court ruling.

In a national television interview, Edo government representative Andrew Emwanta, a lawyer, claimed that state laws supersede federal directives, including the Supreme Court judgement. “The Constitution has placed local governments under state control, and that remains the law,” he said in an interview with Channels TV, dismissing the ruling as overstepping constitutional boundaries. “Financial autonomy is about giving them access, but that does not mean state governments do not have control over how they use that money. The Supreme Court cannot amend the constitution.”

Adding to the controversy, Kassim Afegbua, a member of the governor’s panel, on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, stated: “Lateef Fagbemi might be the law officer of the federation, but he does not represent the constitution of the country and he does not represent other laws made validly under the provisions of the constitution by the Edo House of Assembly.”

READ MORE: Governors’ Forum backs financial autonomy for local governments

Governor Okpebholo’s spokesperson, Fred Itua, argued that the Assembly and the Governor acted within their constitutional rights, stating, “The apex court cannot amend the Constitution. The current structure clearly places local governments under state oversight.”

Prominent figures have condemned Edo’s actions. PDP chieftain Ose Anenih described the defiance as “a shocking rebellion against the rule of law and the President’s authority.”

“As a Niger Delta man, I commend President Tinubu’s bold strides toward restructuring, particularly his efforts to strengthen local government autonomy,” Anenih said. “It is bewildering to see an APC governor—one of his own—leading this insurrection against both the Judiciary and the Presidency. How can a state openly defy a Supreme Court ruling, dismiss the Attorney General’s directives, and undermine the President’s flagship policy? This is an unexplainable affront not just to the rule of law but to the President’s leadership. The Governor’s dance-steps or should I say missteps indicate that there is clearly a drummer hiding in the bushes, with an agenda different from the President’s.”

Anenih warned, “When elected officials decide which court orders to obey and which to ignore, we edge closer to anarchy. President Tinubu’s restructuring agenda is under threat, and urgent intervention is needed to avert a crisis.”

READ MORE: Court reverses suspension of Edo LG chairmen

Legal experts also criticised the governor’s actions. The Supreme Court had clarified that only local councillors, not governors or assemblies, have the authority to suspend or remove elected council officials.

Edo State’s defiance highlights growing tensions between federal mandates and state interpretations of the Nigerian Constitution. Analysts warn that failure to enforce the Supreme Court ruling could embolden other states to disregard judicial authority, threatening national stability.

With local government autonomy and constitutional compliance at stake, the coming days will be critical in determining the trajectory of this crisis. Stakeholders across Nigeria are watching closely, calling for decisive action to uphold the rule of law.