LEGAL PRACTITIONER SUES ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF ONDO STATE, CHIEF JUDGE, HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY AND OTHERS OVER ILLEGAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL
Adebayo Solagbade, a legal practitioner in Akure has sued the Chief Judge of Ondo State and others to court over the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal set up the Chief Judge of Ondo State on Thursday, 16th January 2025 ahead of the Local Government Election conducted by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) on Saturday, 18th January 2025.
In a copy of the Writ of Summons marked as Suit No. HCAK/24/CIV/2025: ADEBAYO SOLAGBADE V ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF ONDO STATE & 4 ORS. cited by our news correspondent, Adebayo Solagbade is seeking:
i. A DECLARATION that the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law, Cap. 87, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State, 2006 and other laws of Ondo State can be validly amended only in the manner prescribed by Section 100 (1) to (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
ii. A DECLARATION that the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law, Cap. 87, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State, 2006 has not been validly amended in line with Section 100 (1) to (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
iii. A DECLARATION that the appointment of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal by the Chief Judge of Ondo State on Thursday, 16th January 2025 violates Section 88(3) of the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law, Cap. 87, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State, 2006 and is therefore null, void and of no legal effect, same having not been validly amended in line with Section 100 (1) to (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
iv. AN ORDER nullifying the appointment of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal by the Chief Judge of Ondo State on Thursday, 16th January 2025.
v. A DECLARATION that the false and misleading public claim by the 2nd Defendant using his office as the Attorney-General of Ondo State on or about Friday, 17th January 2025 that the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law, Cap. 87, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State, 2006 was amended and signed into law in 2024, amounts to gross misconduct.
vi. A DECLARATION that the 2nd Defendant, having deliberately and persistently lied to the public in his office as the Attorney-General of Ondo State that the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law was amended in 2024, is not a competent, fit and proper person to hold and/or continue to hold office, having regards to his Oaths of Allegiance and Office in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended).
A date is yet to be fixed for hearing
