A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the Edo House of Assembly, and other parties involved in a suit filed by the 18 suspended local government chairpersons to maintain the status quo.
It was reported that the 18 council chairpersons and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed the motion ex-parte, suing the Speaker, Edo House of Assembly; Edo House of Assembly, Governor of Edo State, Government of Edo State, and others.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on Monday after counsel to the plaintiffs, Anderson Asemota, moved a motion ex-parte. Asemota told the court that the plaintiffs were suspended by the Edo assembly, and their resolution was transmitted to Governor Okpebholo.
The lawyer argued that the Supreme Court had held in July 2024 that state governors had no power to suspend elected local government chairpersons. He alleged that the chairpersons’ suspension stemmed from their disagreement with the governor to operate a joint account against the Supreme Court decision.
Asemota submitted that the plaintiffs approached the court to exercise their rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, not to resort to self-help. He prayed the court to grant their reliefs, citing Section 2(1) of the Constitution, which confers the power on the court to make the order.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, said extreme carefulness needed to be exercised in granting the reliefs. He ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The matter was adjourned until 20 January for the hearing of the substantive suit.