From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State yesterday assured people of the state that his administration will conduct elections into its 33 local councils and 35 council development areas (LCDAs) when the litigation against the election is decided.

Speaking at the inauguration of 55 caretaker chairmen for 27 local governments and 28 LCDAs at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, he said he expected the case would be settled within the next three months.

Sixteen Baales (village heads) in Oyo Federal Constituency had in January filed a motion ex-parte before a Federal High Court in Abuja against the conduct of the poll slated for February 11, 2017 over the creation of the LCDAs.

The injunction was granted by Justice John Tsoho, who ordered the State Independent Election Commission (OYSIEC) not to proceed with its plan to hold the election, prompting it to be postponed indefinitely.

The suit prevented appointment of caretaker chairmen to the affected five local governments – Afijio, Atiba, Oyo West, Oyo East and Oriire as well as six LCDAs under them.

Also, nominations made by the governor to Irepo Local Government and Asabari LCDA in Saki were not confirmed by the State House of Assembly as a result of issues, bordering on certificates and their intellectual capacity to administer a local government.

Ajimobi, during the inauguration, warned the new helmsmen against non-performance, saying he would not hesitate to remove any who failed, irrespective of number of days to the end of their tenure. “I plead with you to please do the right thing. I will not scare you, but anyone who  does not do the right thing, even if it remains one week or three days for your tenure to expire, we will remove you. You will only hear it on radio that you have been removed,” the governor stressed.

He assured them and others who obtained nomination forms prior to the indefinite postponement of the council poll that they could contest when the case finally got settled.

The caretaker chairman, Ibadan North-West Local Government, Chief Bosun Ajuwon,  who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, lauded the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) in the state for the confidence reposed in them, saying they would ensure better life for the people at the grassroots.