The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has described the suspension of Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen in Edo State as unconstitutional.
The controversy began when the Edo State House of Assembly suspended council leaders from all 18 local governments for two months.
The suspension was based on allegations of gross misconduct and insubordination.
Governor Monday Okpebholo reinforced the decision by directing the officials to hand over to their legislative leaders, citing their failure to submit financial reports dating back to September 2022.
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In defiance, the suspended officials have vowed to remain in office until their terms end in 2026.
According to Fagbemi, the suspensions violate the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling, which safeguards the autonomy of local government councils and restricts state interference.
The AGF clarified that disciplining local government leaders is solely the responsibility of their legislative houses, emphasizing that governors lack the authority to remove elected council officials.
This development has reignited discussions about the separation of powers between state and local governments, with implications for governance across Nigeria’s 774 local councils.
