The suspension of elected local government chairmen by Governor Monday Okpebholo across the 18 local government councils has led to the killing of over 100 people across Edo State in the last four months. The suspension of elected local government chairmen in Edo State has created a security vacuum in the local councils, and we should blame the governor for security lapses in Edo State. The 18 local councils have no functioning executives. In January 2025, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to order over the governor’s disregard for the rule of law and court rulings regarding financial autonomy for local government councils. The political tension heightened when suspected political thugs broke into the legislative chambers and snatched the legislative mace.

The development caused panic among local council workers. The opposition PDP had expressed deep worry at the way Okpebholo is going, stating if urgent and decisive action is not taken to address this lawlessness and restore order within the system, the state may witness an escalation that could result in crisis, anarchy, and chaos and which presents a clear and imminent danger of a breakdown of law and order.

I must condemn the brutal killing of some Northern travellers in Uromi, Edo State, but it is a reflection of the breakdown of law and order at the local government level. The governor is lawless and does not obey court orders. The ongoing legal and political battle over the illegal suspension of elected council chairmen in Edo State has once again reaffirmed the supremacy of the rule of law. Despite sustained pressure, intimidation, and alleged harassment of judicial officers, the elected council chairmen continue to retain their positions, as multiple court rulings—including that of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of Edo State, and the Federal High Court—remain valid and enforceable.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, had earlier affirmed that duly elected local government chairmen cannot be arbitrarily removed by executive fiat. This ruling remains binding and subsisting, setting a legal precedent that lower courts and government officials must adhere to.

Furthermore, the judgement of the Chief Judge of Edo State, which aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling, underscores the judiciary’s role as the ultimate arbiter of legal disputes. Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court has also issued an order reinforcing this position, thereby affirming the continued legitimacy of the elected council chairmen and ruling against their illegal suspension.

As kidnappers and armed robbers regroup in Edo State, the security crisis has worsened, yet the Inspector General of Police has not responded decisively to these escalating threats. Since the IGP banned the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), local vigilantes have been removed, leaving Edo vulnerable to attacks from kidnappers, armed robbers, and cult groups.

Those who conspired with the Inspector General of Police to ban ESSN for political reasons are now ashamed to face Nigerians regarding the current level of insecurity in Edo State. The ban has revealed that ESSN was more effective than the Nigeria Police in terms of crime control. What is happening in Edo State today reflects the politics of security, with the police appearing helpless in controlling crime.

Members of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Edo State, in Edo North, staged a peaceful protest on Thursday against the rising cases of kidnapping and killing of priests. Recently, a priest, Rev. Fr Philip Ekweli, and a seminarian, Andrew Peter, were kidnapped. While the priest was released after a ransom was reportedly paid, the seminarian was killed by his abductors.

Recently, the worsening security crisis in Edo State has drawn the attention of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing the Edo North Senatorial District, who has publicly raised concerns over the escalating violence and insecurity gripping the state.

Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, joins a growing number of prominent Edo sons and daughters in calling for urgent federal government intervention, as criminal activities have reportedly claimed the lives of at least 35 innocent citizens and caused the destruction of properties worth billions of naira in just two weeks. Speaking on the Senate floor, Oshiomhole described the security situation as dire, declaring that “Edo State is under siege.”

Inwalomhe Donald writes via [email protected].