- The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has declared the suspension of 18 Edo LGA chairmen as illegal and unconstitutional.
- Fagbemi stated that only councilors in the respective local governments have the power to remove or suspend elected LG officials.
- The suspension was based on allegations of gross misconduct and insubordination by the Edo State House of Assembly.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has declared the suspension of 18 Edo LGA chairmen as illegal and unconstitutional. Fagbemi emphasized that removing or suspending any elected LG official is the prerogative of councilors in the respective local governments, citing the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country.
The Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the chairmen and vice chairmen of the LGAs for two months over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination. However, Fagbemi stressed that no governor has the right to remove any local government chairman, and that such decisions should be made by the legislative house of the local government.
The suspended LGA officials have rejected their suspension and vowed to remain in office until the expiration of their tenure in 2026. The development has sparked a debate about the relationship between state governments and local government councils, with many questioning the appropriateness of governors wielding such powers over local government officials.
