An Akure High Court in Ondo State has declared the creation of 33 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) by the Ondo State government as unconditional and illegal. Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, in his verdict, described the LCDAs signed into law by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as inchoate and not lawfully created.
Leaders from four Akoko local governments, including Akoko Southeast, Akoko Southwest, Akoko Northwest, and Akoko Northeast, represented by their lawyer Mr. Tolu Babaleye, had sued the state government alleging marginalisation in the creation of the LCDAs. Justice Adebusoye agreed with the Akoko leaders, holding that the creation of the LCDAs did not comply with sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 constitution and lacked equitable distribution among the existing local governments.
The leaders, under the auspices of the registered trustees of Akoko Development Initiative (ADI), hailed the court's decision. In a statement signed by the claimants, including former Speaker of the State House of Assembly Hon. Bakitta Bello, Matthew Ofosile, and Lawal Rogbitan, they asserted that the judgment represented the true position of the law and the aspirations of the people of Akoko.
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The leaders noted the lopsidedness in the Executive Council's recommendation for creating the 33 LCDAs, highlighted in letters addressed to the Governor and the Attorney General. Despite pointing out these errors, no adjustments were made before the recommendation was forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly.
During the public hearing on the bill, representatives of the Akoko local governments presented data to illustrate the inequities in the LCDA creation. For instance, Akoko South West, the largest Local Government Area in the state, received only one LCDA, while Owo ethnic group areas were subdivided into eight LCDAs.
Despite the presented data, the House of Assembly passed the bill into law, leading the Akoko leaders to seek judicial redress. The leaders expressed gratitude that the court's decision vindicated their stance and emphasized the need for fairness, equity, and justice in governance.
They hoped that the ruling would guide future governance in Ondo State, ensuring equitable and sustainable development for all communities.
