By our reporter.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned two commercial banks against allegedly facilitating unauthorized financial transactions for the recently appointed acting local government chairmen in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Benin City on Monday, the caretaker committee chairman of the PDP in Edo, Anthony Aziegbemi, accused the banks of colluding with the state government to alter account details and signatures of democratically elected council chairmen in order to access monthly allocations from the Federation Account.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling, Aziegbemi emphasized that only accounts with the signatures of duly elected chairmen should receive federal allocations. He warned that the implicated banks would be held accountable for any unauthorized financial dealings.
“These banks are complicit in opening illegal accounts that exclude the rightful signatories—democratically elected council chairmen. They will be held responsible for any financial misconduct at that level,” he asserted.
He alleged that since the suspension of the elected chairmen, over ₦30 billion in federal allocations meant for local governments had been under the control of the state government.
The crisis began when the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the elected local government chairmen on December 17, 2024, citing insubordination to Governor Monday Okpebholo. Following this, the council legislative arms allegedly impeached the chairmen and their deputies, replacing them with house leaders as acting chairmen.
Aziegbemi argued that these actions violated both Supreme Court and Edo State High Court rulings, which affirm that only democratically elected chairmen can manage federal allocations to local governments. He further claimed that the state government ignored legal advice from President Bola Tinubu, conveyed through the Attorney General of the Federation, on local government autonomy.
Accusing the acting chairmen of financial misconduct, Aziegbemi stated that they were operating without approved budgets, mismanaging funds, and bypassing due process in contract execution.
“For three months, Governor Okpebholo’s administration has unilaterally withheld salaries from elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, supervisory councilors, special advisers, and assistants. Meanwhile, salary payments to selected loyal councilors continue,” he alleged.
He also accused the state government of diverting local government revenue, neglecting accountability measures, and fostering executive lawlessness.
Calling for an immediate recall of the suspended chairmen, Aziegbemi stressed the need to restore governance at the grassroots level, warning that the current impasse was leading to chaos, with elected officials being harassed by suspected political thugs.
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