BENIN—THE Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dragged the Edo State government before the state High Court sitting in Benin City, challenging the dissolution of the leadership of the 18 local government areas by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, in a statement by its Secretary, Chief Ogedegbe, commended the Governor for the dissolution and urged him to ensure that the state Independent National Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, conducts a free and fair election in the 18 councils.

PDP in the suit, is contending that “on May 30, 2007, the court in its judgment in suit B/115/OS/07, nullified the provisions of the Local  Government (Amendment) Law, 2002 empowering the Governor to set up Transitional Councils to manage the affairs of the local government areas in Edo State or to dissolve the councils.

“That the Governor Oshiomhole predicated the exercise of his power to dissolve the local government areas on provisions of the said law, that had been nullified by  a court of competent jurisdiction.

By Simon Ebegbulem
It is meanwhile, praying the court to declare that the dissolution of the democratically elected 18 local government areas in Edo State by Governor Oshiomhole on October 25, 2010, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

PDP also wants the court to declare that Governor Oshiomhole has no power, whatsoever, to constitute or appoint caretaker committees or Transitional Committees of Councils for the 18 local government areas of the state.