An Ondo State High Court in Akure, on Thursday, nullified the 33 Local Government Development Areas created by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in September 2023.
The court described the LCDAs as illegal and unlawful creations.
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Akeredolu signed the law creating the 33 LCDAs to expand the council areas in Ondo State from 18 to 51.
The late governor followed the example of then Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu (now Nigeria’s President), who created additional 37 LCDAs to expand the council areas in Lagos from 20 to 57.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice A.O. Adebusuoye said the LG Creation Law 2023, which birthed the 33 LCDAs, stood nullified because Akeredolu signed the law in Ibadan, Oyo State, and not on the soil of Ondo State.
The judge declared that signing the law outside of Ondo State made it “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.”
The judge ruled on a lawsuit filed by a group, the Akoko Development Initiative and 22 others, which challenged the creation of the 33 LCDAs by the late governor.
The plaintiffs said they filed the suit on behalf of themselves and the people of Akokoland.
Following the creation of the 33 LCDAs in September 2023, the late Governor Akeredolu had selected 33 caretaker chairmen to man them and sent the names to the state Assembly for screening and approval.
The Assembly approved the caretaker chairmen but the court stopped their inauguration.
On Thursday, the plaintiffs hailed the judgment of the court scrapping the 33 LCDAs.
The Coordinator of Akoko Development Initiative, Bakita Bello, in a statement, hailed the court for “safeguarding the aspirations of the Akoko people and other ethnic groups in Ondo State to coexist with one another in a peaceful environment conducive for even and sustainable development in our political, social, religious and economic life. “
Bello said, “We do not take for granted that justice will come to us on a silver platter. We are, therefore resolute and determined, to always fight for it, no matter the obstacles that may come and the quarters from which they may emerge.
“It is our hope that the outcome of this process will serve as a guide to the government and the people of our Sunshine State in the handling of our public affairs in the future, beginning from now. We should understand and implement our statutes for the good of all, without fear or favour and focus, at all times, on fairness, equity and justice to build, jointly, the egalitarian society that we deserve.
“We express profound appreciation to everyone and group that played a role in making today’s conclusion possible. The judiciary, which has proved to be a strong pillar to hold onto by the common man, thank you for giving and sustaining our hope.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
