The entire members; Ademola Igbalajobi, Akinyemi Musa, Makinde Saheed, Rasak Lamidi, Hussein Saburi, Bello Quadri, Hammed Bayonle, Azeez Olalekan, Owolabi Lukman, Adeniran Najeem, Arulogun Abass and Oyelakin Ismail of the Ibadan North-East Local Government Legislative Council have rejected the explanations offered by the Executive Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Akinsola Akintayo, over the allegations of gross misconduct and mismanagement of public funds levelled against his administration.
The 12 councillors unanimously described the chairman’s claim that their action was motivated by political pressure ahead of the forthcoming local government elections as an attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues contained in their recommendation for his removal.
The Legislative Council had, in a resolution dated September 8, 2026, recommended Akintayo’s removal and forwarded the recommendation to the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, citing alleged violations of the Oyo State Local Government System Law, 2001, including alleged disregard for legislative oversight, questionable handling of council assets and alleged mismanagement of public funds.
‘Our petition is about governance, not party tickets’
Reacting to the chairman’s rejoinder, the councillors maintained that their complaint was not founded on the issue of party tickets or personal political interests.
They challenged Akintayo to distinguish between political disagreements and the specific allegations contained in their petition, arguing that the issues raised against him concern the administration and management of public resources entrusted to the local government.
According to the lawmakers, the allegations were supported by specific references to provisions of the Oyo State Local Government System Law, 2001, and were presented as matters requiring legislative and statutory scrutiny.
They therefore maintained that attributing the entire development to disagreements over APM return tickets did not address the substance of the allegations.
Councillors demand answers on alleged disregard of summons
The lawmakers also questioned the chairman’s explanation regarding their alleged political motivation, stressing that one of the central issues raised was his alleged failure to honour repeated summonses from the Legislative Council.
They cited Section 42(4) of the Oyo State Local Government System Law, 2001, which provides for the power of the Council to summon persons to appear before it and explain issues concerning the local government.
The councillors argued that the chairman’s alleged failure to appear before the Legislative Council on several occasions remained a governance issue requiring explanation, irrespective of political affiliations or electoral ambitions.
‘Political disagreement cannot invalidate oversight’
The lawmakers further argued that even where political differences exist among elected officials, such differences do not automatically invalidate the statutory oversight responsibilities of the Legislative Council.
They maintained that the council has a duty to scrutinise the administration, expenditure and management of local government resources, insisting that their action should be assessed based on the facts and documents presented rather than assumptions about political motives.
Councillors deny allegations of personal demands
The Legislative Council also rejected the chairman’s allegations concerning demands for additional lock-up shops, travel arrangements and a ₦500,000 allowance.
The councillors said that such claims, even if made, do not answer the specific allegations contained in the removal recommendation concerning council finances, property concessions, disposal of assets and compliance with the Local Government System Law.
They urged the chairman to provide evidence to substantiate any allegation that individual councillors demanded personal benefits as a condition for performing their legislative responsibilities.
Focus remains on council finances and assets
The lawmakers reiterated that some of their most serious concerns relate to the alleged management of public funds and council assets.
They specifically pointed to alleged transactions involving Orisa Market, Agodi-Gate; TINKA Shopping Complex; the former Orita Aperin Dump Site, as well as the alleged disposal of council vehicles and other properties.
They also questioned expenditure on projects which they claimed had either become moribund or were undertaken without adequate legislative involvement.
According to the councillors, these issues cannot simply be dismissed as political disagreements without proper examination of the relevant financial records, agreements, approvals and statutory procedures.
Council stands by removal recommendation
The lawmakers therefore challenged the chairman to address each allegation on its merits rather than broadly attributing the controversy to the forthcoming local government elections.
They stressed that their recommendation was made through a formal legislative resolution and subsequently transmitted to the Oyo State House of Assembly for consideration.
The councillors reaffirmed their commitment to due process, transparency and accountability, insisting that their primary responsibility is to protect the interests of the people of Ibadan North-East Local Government.
They said they were prepared to defend the allegations and provide relevant documents before any competent authority investigating the matter.
The Legislative Council consequently maintained its recommendation that Hon. Ibrahim Akinsola Akintayo be removed from office, pending the determination of the matter by the appropriate authorities.
The chairman’s allegations against the councillors regarding political pressure and personal demands remain his claims, just as the allegations against him remain allegations pending investigation and determination by the appropriate authorities.
