Ondo PDP Calls for Kayode Ajulo’s Resignation as Attorney General

Fidelis David in Akure

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday called for the immediate resignation of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, for violating his oath of office.

Ajulo in a press statement on Thursday justified that the appointment of Transition Committees for 18 Local Governments and 33 Local Council Development Areas by the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, despite the Supreme Court judgement was his constitutional right.

It came after the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November governorship election in Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, knocked the state governor over the constitution of the committee describing the governor’s decision as a flagrant disrespect for an Ondo State High Court judgement which held that the Local Government Creation Law 2023 was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. 

However, reacting to Ajulo’s justification, the PDP in a statement through the state Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, lambasted the AG, saying he no longer deserves to serve as the Chief Law Officer of the state.

“Ajulo 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.”

The party claimed that since Ajulo is incapable of advising the Governor according to law, he should resign immediately.

“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.”