The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, to resign.
The party said its request was premised on Ajulo’s purported legitimization of alleged unconstitutional appointment of caretaker committees for the state’s 18 Local Government Councils and 33 LCDAs by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a statement on Friday by its spokesperson in the state, Hon Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the party said that Ajulo violated his oath of office by endorsing the governor’s action.
Reacting on Thursday to PDP’s criticism of the governor’s action, Ajulo said in a press statement that the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Governments and 33 Local Council Development Areas was the constitutional right of the Governor.
The party advised the appointees not to be used “because every kobo they spend in these phantom offices will be legally recovered from them.”
Following is the party’s full statement calling for the Commissioner’s immediate resignation:
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State Chapter calls for the immediate resignation of Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo for violating his Oath of office.
“Ajulo in a Press Statement opined that the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Governments and 33 Local Council Development Areas was the Constitutional right of the Governor without citing any portion of the Constitution where he derived such powers from.
“If a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is expected to know the laws of our land is the person urging Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa to trample on our Constitution and Supreme Court pronouncement, then, he no longer deserves to serve as the Chief Law Officer of the State.
“In a landmark judgment on Thursday, 11th July 2024, a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared that democratically elected Local Government was sacrosanct and non-negotiable.
“Justice Emmanuel Agim who delivered the judgment, said ” State governments are perpetuating a dangerous trend by refusing to allow democratically elected Local Government Councils to function, instead appointing their loyalists who can only be removed by them”.
“It is very unfortunate that, Ajulo tried in vain to legitimise the illegality of his Governor the same day the Supreme Court made the declaration.
“The apex Court in Nigeria has spoken and the Attorney General is saying something different. Which Constitution was Ajulo referring to as authority for appointing the Transition Committees? You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand.
“Our party wishes to advise those appointed into these offices not to allow themselves to be used. Because every kobo they spend in these phantom offices will be legally recovered from them.
“Since Kayode Ajulo, SAN, is incapable of advising the Governor according to law, he is advised to resign immediately,” the statement added.
