The Edo State Government has said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has no constitutional power to suspend the Edo Security Corps, as it is a creation of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The IGP had at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, September 11, announced that the outfit had been suspended ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
But, in a statement, Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media, declared: “The Edo State government insists that the ESC is a body set up by law passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.
“This is tantamount to the IGP disbanding the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State billed for next month.”
However, in the interest of peace in the State ahead of the September 21 governorship election, Osagie disclosed that Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has directed that all the officials of the ESC should proceed on leave from today till 23rd of September after the election.
But, “the Edo State government notes that it is unconstitutional for the IGP to make such a declaration since Sec 11 (1), Sec 11 (2) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the State House of Assembly to set up structures for public safety and security of the state,” Osagie stated.
