Court Declares 33 Ondo LCDAs Created By Akeredolu Illegal

A high court in Akure, Ondo state, has declared invalid the previous governor’s formation of 33 more local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.

On Thursday, June 20, Judge Adegboyega Adebusoye made the decision.

On August 15, 2023, the measure establishing the 33 extra councils was approved by the Ondo State House of Assembly following a third reading.

The measure was signed by former Ondo state governor Rotimi Akeredolu in September 2023, one day after he returned from a three-month medical break.

Together with the 18 LGAs, the 33 LCDAs would make up the state’s total of 51 local councils.

In his decision, the judge held that a governor cannot sign a bill into law that is not inside the state that they are in charge of.

Tolu Babaleye, the attorney for the 22 plaintiffs, told reporters during the court hearing that the formation of the 33 LCDAs was deemed “unconstitutional, null and void.”

Babalaye said: “We approached this court being the last hope of the common man. And today, the court gave a well-considered judgment which I call a judicial Tsunami, sweeping off all those illegally created local governments in Ondo state.

“Apart from that, there was a landmark pronouncement by the court to the effect that no governor is empowered to sign the law of a state outside the shores or jurisdiction of that state because the government has provided for a massive government house for a governor.

“So the governor has no right under the law to go to Ibadan to sign the law. Because of that, the law was nullified, declared unconstitutional and of no effect.

“So as I talk to you now, Ondo state has reverted to 18 local governments.”

Akeredolu, who signed the measure to create the extra states, died on December 27, 2023, after a long illness. His deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was promptly sworn in to succeed him.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli