PDP tackles Aiyedatiwa for constituting transition committees for ‘illegal LCDAs’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo, for constituting transition committees for the 33 “illegal” local council development areas (LCDAs).

On Wednesday, the state government released a list of members of the transition committees for the 18 LGAs and 33 LCDAs.

A high court in Akure had nullified the creation of the 33 additional councils.

Adegboyega Adebusoye, the judge, held that it was illegal for the late Rotimi Akeredolu, former governor of the state, to have signed the law in Ibadan — outside the state he governed.

In a statement by Kennedy Peretei, spokesperson of Ondo chapter of the PDP, the opposition described the setting up of the transition committees as the “height of lawlessness and impunity”.

“Ondo state governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa in flagrant disrespect for an Ondo state high court judgement has appointed Transition Committees for 18 Local Government Areas and outlawed 33 Local Council Development Areas,” the statement reads. 

“On Thursday, 20th June 2024, Hon Justice A.O Adebusuoye pronounced the 33 LCDAs created by Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration as inchoate and unlawfully created.

“The Court held that the Local Government Creation Law 2023 was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

“Therefore, it is the height of lawlessness and impunity for Aiyedatiwa to appoint Committees for LCDAs that are non-existent in the eyes of the law.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter wishes to advise the governor to respect the laws of the land and stop embarrassing the people of the state with his actions that make us a laughing stock in the comity of civilised people.”

The Ondo state house of assembly passed the bill for the creation of the 33 additional councils on August 15, 2023, after it scaled a third reading.

Akeredolu signed the bill into law in September 2023, a day after his return from a three-month medical leave.