A fresh crisis has erupted in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State following a heated confrontation between the council chairman, Hon. Tope Omolayo, and members of the legislative council over allegations of financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
At a parliamentary sitting held on Wednesday, the councillors accused Omolayo of financial improprieties, violation of the statutory budget and internally generated revenue (IGR) guidelines, disrespect to traditional rulers, and other acts they described as “misconduct unbecoming of his office.”
The sitting, presided over by the Leader of the Owo Legislative Council, Hon. Doyin Adebayo, resolved to suspend Omolayo pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations.
The lawmakers also announced the appointment of Hon. Hamed Ibrahim as the acting chairman of the council.
In a statement issued after the session, the councillors said the decision was necessary to restore transparency and accountability in the local government.
“The council assures the good people of Owo Local Government Area that this suspension is necessary to ensure good governance and accountability,” the statement read.
“We urge all stakeholders to remain calm and cooperative as we work towards resolving the issues at hand.
“The Head of Local Government Administration is to effect all necessary changes to bank signatories, recognising Hon. Hamed Ibrahim as acting chairman.”
The legislators also directed that all council properties in Omolayo’s possession be returned to the Head of Local Government Administration.
The suspension marks a new twist in the ongoing tension between council chairmen and councillors across the state.
Barely a month ago, Omolayo had accused the Ondo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of limiting council access to only ₦5 million monthly, despite substantial allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
According to him, most of the local government funds were being centrally controlled under a joint account system, leaving chairmen with limited financial autonomy.
Reacting to his suspension, Omolayo dismissed the action as “baseless, illegal, and politically motivated.”
“Those are elements of destruction. I didn’t receive any letter from them. There are some leaders who are not happy with what we are doing,” he said.
“All they wanted was for me to give them money. When they gave me project money, they demanded 30 per cent. I refused. They said I should bring ₦25 million. All they are agitating for is money.”
The embattled chairman insisted he remained the duly recognised chairman of Owo Local Government, describing the suspension as a “kangaroo announcement.”
“As far as we are concerned, nothing is happening. I am not impeached. I am not suspended. It’s just an online kangaroo announcement. That’s all I can say for now,” he added.
The latest crisis underscores the deepening rift between local government executives and councillors in Ondo State, amid ongoing debates about transparency, accountability, and autonomy in council administration.
As the Owo Legislative Council proceeds with its investigation, stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the rift will be resolved internally — or escalate into a full-blown political showdown.
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