The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the impeachment of Oredo Local Government Chairman Tom Obaseki, alleging that it was orchestrated by individuals who are not legitimate councillors.
The Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, raised these concerns during a press conference on Friday, describing the impeachment as a threat to democracy in the state.
Naijaonpoint reports that Aziegbemi accused the purported councillors of impersonation, claiming they lacked the legal authority to execute such an action.
“Those who carried out the impeachment are not councillors of Oredo Local Government. They are impersonators. This act is not only illegal but also a precursor to dictatorship in our beloved state,” he said.
He further urged security agencies to investigate and protect legitimate councillors, alleging that some are facing threats.
The PDP caretaker chairman appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and opinion leaders to step in and address what he described as an assault on democracy.
He said, “We are drawing the attention of Nigerians and Edolites to what is happening in Oredo local government area, where people not known and not elected impeached the chairman.”
He said elected councillors had been hiding after their leader was threatened and attacked.
Aziegbemi added, “How can the governor allow impostors to say that they have driven away the elected people in the council? People who didn’t contest elections, and don’t have certificate of returns, will just gather in one room and say they have impeached the leader of the house and the council chairman.
“So, we call the attention of the President, the Inspector General of Police, the DG State Security Service to what is happening in Edo State. We are urging them to please take this issue very seriously and deal with it now that they can still deal with it.”