Following the decision of Governor Seyi Makinde to dissolve the board of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, members of the state’s House of Assembly have thrown their support behind the governor.
Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, representing Ogbomoso South state constituency and Majority Leader, in a matter of urgent public important raised at the plenary on Wednesday, said that the action of the dissolved state electoral body to conduct elections into LCDAs had breached section 5(a) of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Law of 1999 and Section 4(a) part II of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which empowers the OYSIEC to conduct elections into only constitutionally recognized local government areas.
Hon. Adedoyin prayed that the House should declare the action of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections into Local Council Development Areas in the state unconstitutional.
In his argument, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon.Asimiyu Alarape, in his opinion on the matter, mentioned that all laws backing the establishment of additional Local government were made in 2002 by the state’s assembly and assented to by the then governor, late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, which subsequently converted to LCDAs.
Hon. Alarape cautioned the House to exercise patience on the matter so as not to go against laws of the assembly because of personal gains.
While making his argument, lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju state constituency, Hon. Adeola Bamidele established that the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended only recognized 33 local government areas in Oyo state and 774 in the entire country.
He added that the bone of contention was not the creation of LCDAs by ex-Governor Abiola Ajimobi, rather, it was the conduct of the elections into LCDAs that were not recognized by the constitution.
While passing the resolution of the House, the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, said that the dissolution of OYSIEC board by the Oyo State government was in the public interest and preservation of the sanctity of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Hon. Ogundoyin maintained that nobody is against the creation of LCDAs, saying that the development of grassroots is desired by everyone.
The Speaker disclosed that the House will set up an Ad-hoc committee to investigate all activities of the local government councils and Local Council Development Areas since May, 2018.
While expressing the support of House to the dissolution of the OYSIEC board, Hon. Ogundoyin urged Governor Seyi Makinde to urgently consider reconstitution of the OYSIEC board that will conduct fresh, free and fair elections into local government councils in line with the provisions of the laws of the land.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
