The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned two new-generation commercial banks against opening unauthorized accounts for purported acting local government chairmen to access monthly allocations from the Federation Account.
The caretaker committee chairman of the party in the state, Anthony Aziegbemi, issued the warning on Monday during a press conference in Benin City, titled “Ongoing Constitutional Crisis, Chaos in Edo State Local Government Areas.”
Aziegbemi alleged that the banks were colluding with the state government to alter official accounts and signatures of the democratically elected council chairmen.
“The Supreme Court judgment mandates that funds must be paid into accounts controlled by democratically elected chairmen.
The only legitimate accounts are those with their signatures,” Aziegbemi stated.
He warned the banks against engaging in illegal transactions, emphasizing that they would be held accountable.
“These two banks are at the forefront of this collusion, opening unauthorized accounts without elected chairmen as signatories.
They will be responsible for any consequences arising from these actions,” he added.
Aziegbemi further alleged that since the suspension of elected chairmen, over N30 billion has been funneled into local government councils now controlled by the state government under Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Background on LG Crisis
InfoStride News recalls that elected local government chairmen were suspended by the Edo State House of Assembly on December 17, 2024, for alleged insubordination to the governor.
They were subsequently impeached by their respective legislative councils, with House Leaders sworn in as acting chairmen.
Aziegbemi argued that both the suspension and impeachment violated Supreme Court and Edo State High Court judgments, which uphold that only democratically elected chairmen can control local government funds.
He also accused the state government of ignoring President Bola Tinubu’s directive, through the Attorney General of the Federation, on local government autonomy.
Allegations Against Acting Chairmen
The PDP chairman raised concerns over financial mismanagement, stating that acting chairmen were illegally spending public funds without approved budgets.
“Contracts, transformer purchases, and event organization are done without due process. Revenue collected is unaccounted for and being diverted. This is executive rascality and impunity taken too far,” he declared.
Aziegbemi further alleged that Governor Okpebholo’s administration had unilaterally stopped salaries for elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, supervisory councilors, special advisers, and special assistants, while selectively paying loyal councilors across the 18 local government areas.
He called on the Edo State House of Assembly to immediately reinstate the suspended chairmen, arguing that governance at the grassroots had collapsed.
“Nothing is happening in the councils. Elected chairmen are attacked and humiliated by suspected thugs whenever they attempt to work,” he said.
The Edo State government has yet to respond to these allegations.
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