2 July 2009
(Page 2 of 2)
The council chairmen were put in place by the former Governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
Justice, Nelson Adeyanju of the Akure High court in his ruling declared that the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) constituted by then Gov. Agagu did not follow the laid down procedures by refusing to adhere to the mandatory 150 days allowed by the law before the conduct of election. He described the purported election of the Plaintiffs of December 17, 2007 as null and void.
He ruled that the former council officers, chairmen and councilors should no longer parade themselves as Chairmen and Councilors henceforth.
The 18 local government chairmen who were elected in the last two years of former governor Agagu of the state was sacked in March this year by Governor Olusegun Mimiko when he was declared winner of the April 14, 2007 poll by the Appeal court in Benin .
And the council boss went to court saying their election was democratic and legal. They however failed to convince the court that they should be allowed to serve out their term.
And following the judgement of the High Court, the State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko constituted Caretaker Committees for the 18 local government areas of the state in order to prevent a vacuum in the administration of the state third tier of government.
The names of the Chairmen are as follows: Akure South Local Government- Tayo Oluwatayo, Akure North Local Government - Simbo Akinola-Obe, Ondo East Local Government - Siji Akindiose, Ondo West Local Government - Ade Adeniyi, Idanre Local Government Area - Taiye Sunday, Akoko North East Local Government - Sunday Afelumo, Akoko North West Local Government - Tope Adebambo, Akoko South West - Pastor Charles Akinniyi, Akoko South East - Emmanuel Oluwole Ogidan, Ifedore Local Government - Chief S. I Ademokun, Odigbo Local Government - Barrister Akinjiyan, Irele Local Government - Shadrach Olowojuni.
Others arre Ose Local Government - Elowofela Solomon, Okitipupa Local Government - Dr. Dapo Iwala , Ilaje Local Government - Prince Adegbenro Nomiye, Ese Odo Local Government Area - Kennedy Perete, Ile Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area - Surveyor Niran Akinniyi, Owo Local Government Area - Adeola Fagbayigbo.
Dr Mimiko stated that his government took the action in line with its rule of law mantra.
His word: "We commend all parties involved, particularly our teeming citizens, party members and supporters and indeed the opposition party for their patience during the long wait for justice to take its course.
"We restate that in this matter, there is no victor and no vanquished, for it is democracy in action. We ask all to remain law abiding and give all the necessary support to the newly appointed Chairmen of Caretaker Committees."
Dr Mimiko therefore enjoined the appointees to take seriously the responsibility of managing the affairs of the local government areas pending the full installation of democratically elected Chairmen and Councilors. The drama certainly has not ended. Unless reason and patroitism prevail, the lawmakers and PDP are likely to rake up new twist to the issue. Perhaps the court will at the end settle the rift.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
