WHY‬ THERE HAVE BEEN NO LG ELECTIONS IN OYO STATE SINCE AJIMOBI CAME TO OFFICE

Many people, especially Dr. Ben Jimi Dada whom I love so much and I'm proud of, have asked me to investigate why we have not had local government election in Oyo State, since Governor Abiola Ajimobi assumed office.

Since 2011, our LGs have been manned by caretaker councils appointed at the sole discretion of the governor. This is undemocratic as it runs against the spirit and letters of section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

However, my findings show that the fate of LG elections in Oyo State is intertwined in a labyrinth of litigations instituted by 3 different parties namely:

1. Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission OYSIEC members appointed by Governor Ladoja who were sacked by Governor Alao Akala.

2. OYSIEC members appointed by Alao-Akala but sacked by Governor Ajimobi and the Ajimobi administration which wants to know which of the judgements given in the above 2 cases to obey and follow.

These are legal impediments as opposed to the political as reasons for not conducting local government elections in Oyo State.

When Otunba Alao-Akala came on board as the Governor of our dear state after the impeachment of Senator Ladoja, he sacked all the members of OYSIEC appointed by Ladoja. The sack was undoubtedly unconstitutional in that the constitution prescribes a 5year certain period for members, who were yet to see out their tenure when sacked, challenged their dissolution in court and judgement was not delivered until after Senator Abiola Ajimobi was sworn in as Governor. The said court declared their removal as illegal and unconstitutional and the government was directed to pay them all their entitlements.

With that declaration by the court as per P.O Ige (as he then was the judge), it automatically follows that Otunba Akala's appointees were occupying the office illegally as the office was not vacant when they were appointed into that office.

The Ajimobi government complied with the judgement and settled all the arrears of salaries of the judgement creditors.

He (Ajimobi) made moves to constitute OYSIEC board, but the Akala men also went to court to challenge their removal from office. Oyo State High Court under Justice M.O. Bolaji -Yussuff also gave judgement in their favour and against the state government. The government was also ordered to pay this set of OYSIEC Board as well.

Ajimobi felt that it is against due process to apply state resources to offset the salaries of 2 sets of people for the same office at thesame time, more so that a court had also declared those occupiers of the office as illegal.

Therefore, he presented the two matters to the Court of Appeal for determination on which of the two conflicting judgements to follow.

Once the Court of Appeal clears the legal impediments and government is empowered legally to constitute the Board, machinery can be set in motion by the Board towards conducting the elections.

With this investigative report, "Who is to be blamed?

Posted via Composer