By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City

The Leadership of the Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned and described as unconstitutional and illegal the alleged extension of tenure of local government council chairmen in the state by the state government.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

The State publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Chris Nehikhare in a
statement made available to newsmen in the State capital
yesterday,describes the purported extension of the tenures of the
council bosses as an assault on the sensibilities of the people of Edo
State, warning that it would not go well with thousands of local
government workers and pensioners who have not been paid for 13
Months.

His Words: “An extension of the tenure, especially for this set of
council chairmen, will be an aberration. It will be embolden the
current excessive centralization of governance that deepens corruption and abuse of power. The councils as currently constituted are headed by inept cronies and party sympathizers through the instrumentality of an inept state Government.

Adding,“Edo PDP advises the governor not to go down this path but to as a matter of urgency instruct his comatose EDSIEC to begin
preparations for elections to hold on or before April 22, 2016.”

However, in his reaction Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs, Governor’s Office, Mr. John Mayaki, denied elongation of tenure of council chairman, saying: “The tenure of Edo State Local Government Chairmen is still running, and will constitutionally end on April 22, 2016. So, it is baseless for the PDP to claim that the governor has extended their tenure.

“This issue has not been discussed at any forum. The governor is aware that the Local Government Chairmen are running a three-year constitutional tenure and will not meddle in such issues.”