Edo Govt Says Nigerian Police Chief Lacks Power To Suspend State-Owned Security Outfit Ahead Of Gov Poll

The Edo State Government has challenged the authority of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who announced the suspension of the Edo Security Corps (ESC) in preparation for the September 21 governorship election. The ESC, established by legislation from the Edo State House of Assembly, is argued by the state government to be beyond the IGP’s constitutional reach.Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Godwin Obaseki, stated that the IGP’s action is unconstitutional. He compared the situation to a hypothetical scenario where the IGP could unilaterally disband Operation Amotekun in the Western Nigeria region ahead of an election. Osagie emphasized that the ESC’s creation falls under the jurisdiction of the state legislature according to Sections 11(1) and 11(2) of the relevant legal provisions, which empower state assemblies to establish their own security structures.Despite this dispute, Governor Obaseki has ordered that ESC officials take leave from September 11 until after the election to maintain peace. The state government insists that any attempt by the IGP to alter the status of the ESC is legally unsupported and challenges his right to make such declarations.