By John Mayaki
Although, I am yet to set my eyes on the certified true copy of the ruling of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court 8, Abuja, however, the news is everywhere on the social media that all parties involved in the ongoing crisis surrounding the local government councils on Edo state are required to maintain status quo as it was on December 15, 2024, until the court makes a final decision on the matter.
I think it is a commendable ruling. However, I need to address some misunderstandings to ensure that uninformed persons are not misled by what the court did not adjudicate upon.
The court’s ruling has not violated the right of the legislators at the 18 local government areas of the state to impeach their chairmen. Besides, councilors in the various councils were not specifically named as parties in the legal action neither is the court ruling binding on them.
Local government councils, like their counterparts in higher legislative bodies such the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly, do have the constitutional authority to impeach their chairmen; it’s constitutionally guaranteed.
The court’s ruling does not apply to the legislature at the local government t councils since they were not named as parties, and their impeachment actions are constitutionally grounded.
All impeached council chairmen should contest their impeachment in courts of competent jurisdiction. That is the appropriate course of action at this time.
The court’s directive in this case is aimed at all parties involved in the ongoing local government councils crisis, as stated in the ruling.
While the ruling specifically named the Edo State Government, the House of Assembly, and the 18 Local Government Council Chairmen we parties to the case, it does not include local government legislators.
