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The Oyo State government has suspended four councillors from Ogbomoso North Local Government Area and another four from the neighbouring Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The suspension comes after the government endorsed the sack of Mr Olamijuwon Alao-Akala, a son of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the Executive Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area.
Olamiju Alao-Akala was elected on May 12, last year, on the platform of the APC, but last week, he, alongside some councillors, defected to the ADP to support his father’s ambition.
The councillors who signed a legislative resolution to suspend Alao-Akala, said he was sacked for alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Former Vice Chairman Abass Bello has been sworn in as acting Chairman
Speaking during the swearing in of Bello at the state secretariat, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade, disclosed that apart from Alao-Akala, four other councillors from the same local government were also suspended.
They are: Mr Olawunmi Olutayo, Adeniyi Adekunle, Oladele Sunday and Alagbe Ayodunmade.
Another four were suspended from the neighbouring Ogbomoso Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
They are: Akande Ranti, Olabode Abiola, Salaudeen Muhammed and Muhammed Yusuf.
The Alao-Akalas have vowed to challenge the suspension which they dexribed as illegal and a political witch hunt.
Political watchers therefore see the suspension of more councillors as a way to weaken Alao-Akala’s influence in Ogbomoso as well as a weeding out of ADP apologists.