Governor AbdulRazaq in March 2020 inaugurated TIC to oversee the affairs of the 16 LGAs in the state, an action that was met with a series of backlash and legal action.
The Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENETSUD) has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of disregarding a court order nullifying the appointment of Transition Implementation Committees (TICs) as Local Government chairmen in Kwara State.
The group also accused the governor of running the state like a tyrant.
Governor AbdulRazaq in March 2020 inaugurated TIC to oversee the affairs of the 16 LGAs in the state, an action that was met with a series of backlash and legal action.
ENETSUD had sued the governor and won the case instituted at the Kwara State High Court presided over by Justice Hassan Gegele.
The judge described the action of Governor AbdulRazaq and his government as executive rascality and abuse of power.
He added that the composition of TIC officials in the local government councils was illegal and unconstitutional.
The group noted that the governor appealed and lost. It, therefore, asked the governor to abide by the ruling of the lower court.
However, the governor reportedly approached the Supreme Court seeking to upturn the order of the lower court and affirm his use of TIC in place of LGA chairmen.
ENETSUD chided the governor, saying that rather than following the constitution of the country and court order, the governor has refused to prosecute the case at the apex court. It accused the governor of buying time and delaying the conduct of local government elections.
“After his repeated loss at the High and Appeal Courts, Kwara Governor filed another appeal at the Supreme Court but he has refused/failed to diligently prosecute his case to buy time and avoid conduct of LG election and sack of illegal TIC as directed by the courts.
“The only Governor in Kwara history that operates 16 LGA unconstitutionally and tyrannically for 4.5 years with impunity.
“As at today, 31st of December 2023, the illegal TICs are still ruling the 16 LGAs in Kwara State,” the group said.
The organization called on the governor to immediately comply with the court ruling and reinstate democratically elected officials in the LGAs or conduct fresh elections.
It warned that Governor AbdulRazaq's actions could set a dangerous precedent for future disregard of court orders in the state.