“There Is Ongoing Coup D’état in Edo State” – PDP Alerts

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday January, 11, cautioned the Edo State Government, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, against engaging in acts capable of plunging the State into an  avoidable anarchy.

This is even as it called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently rein in APC and Governor Monday Okpebholo , before it becomes too late .

The PDP’s cautionary note comes on the heels of the alleged impeachment of Oredo Local Government Chairman,Tom Obaseki on Friday, January 10 by some Councilors.

The Source reports that the alleged  impeachment exercise was yet another in many  that have  trailed  the controversial suspension of the 18  elected Council Chairmen and their Deputies on December 15, 2024, by the Governor .

The suspended Council Chairmen are of the PDP extraction ,while Governor Okpebholo is a member of the APC .

At a media briefing on Saturday, the Caretaker Chairman of the PDP  Anthony Aziegbemi, accused  Governor Okpebholo and the APC hierarchy of having absolute disregard for the rule of law.

Despite at least two valid court orders directing a return to status quo, and a veiled condemnation of the suspension order by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Governor Okpebholo has remained adamant.

The PDP in Edo State has pointedly accused the Governor of orchestrating the gale of impeachment rocking many of the Local Councils.

The Party described the development as part of a wider plan by the Governor to cow the elected Council officials, and hijack the Local Government administration in the state against the grains of the Supreme court verdict on Council autonomy.

Friday’s Oredo Council impeachment, according to the PDP was executed by  12 imposters masquerading as Councilors .

The PDP noted that the self acclaimed councillors invaded the Council Headquarters like hired thugs, noting that the action by the APC-led Government in sponsoring illegal activities is  akin to staging  coup d’etat in the council areas.

The party insisted that such unlawful actions as being promoted by the APC  tantamount to courting anarchy .

” We call on President BolaTinubu to intervene because the development is becoming worrisome.

“It is a coup by the APC-led Government in Edo State against democracy. The Edo State Government must be  called to order to avoid a state of anarchy following the outright disregard for the rule of law.

“The latest impeachment was at the Oredo Local Government, where 12 imposters posing as Councilors invaded the council and claimed to have impeached the council chairman ,Tom Obaseki”, the PDP Chairman alleged.

“However, the APC in the State has since rejected the PDP’s allegation that the Governor is responsible for the crisis rocking the Councils .

Rather, it has blamed the unfortunate situation on an alleged ongoing supremacy battle among some centrifugal forces and interests within the PDP itself .

In a statement earlier in  the week ,the APC described the convulsions at the Councils as self inflicted .