Court Declares Creation of Ondo’s 33 LCD As Unconstitutional

The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has declared the creation of the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as unconstitutional and illegal.

The judgment, delivered by Justice A.O Adebusuoye, dealt a significant blow to the legacy of the late governor, asserting that the LCDAs were not lawfully established under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The controversy stemmed from Governor Akeredolu’s decision in September 2023 to sign into law a bill passed by the State House of Assembly, which created the 33 LCDAs.

This move, aimed at decentralizing governance and bringing development closer to the grassroots, was met with legal challenges questioning its legality.

The LCDAs, although intended to operate alongside the existing 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, effectively increased the administrative units to a total of 51.

This restructuring was part of Akeredolu’s governance agenda during his tenure, marked by his background as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and former Attorney General of Ondo State.

Governor Akeredolu, who served from February 24, 2017, until his untimely demise on December 27, 2023, was succeeded by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was promptly sworn in to continue leading the state.