Ondo High Court declares creation of 33 LCDAs unconstitutional

By Innocent Raphael

An Ondo State High Court in Akure has ruled that the creation of 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by the late governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is unconstitutional and illegal.

Justice A.O. Adebusoye, presiding over the case, declared that the LCDAs were not established in accordance with the law. This decision follows the bill signed into law by Akeredolu in September 2023, after it was passed by the state House of Assembly members during its third reading.

The newly created LCDAs were intended to coexist with the 18 established Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, increasing the total number of local administrative units to 51.

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and ex-Attorney General of Ondo State, governed the state from February 24, 2017, until his death on December 27, 2023.

His deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was immediately sworn in as governor following Akeredolu’s passing.

The court’s ruling has significant implications for local governance and the administrative structure within Ondo State. The creation of the LCDAs had been part of Akeredolu’s broader strategy to enhance local administration and development.

However, this ruling highlights the necessity for strict adherence to constitutional provisions when making such changes.

The decision has been met with varied reactions from different stakeholders within the state. Some see it as a reinforcement of the rule of law, while others are concerned about the potential disruption to local governance and development initiatives.

The state government is expected to issue a formal response and possibly seek further legal recourse to address the court’s decision.