Oyo State government has said that the continued use of caretaker chairmen to run local governments is due to a pending court case instituted by members of the then Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) against the state government about nine years ago.

The state government, through the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communications and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, noted that the then members of OYSIEC had filed a case challenging the dissolution of the electoral commission by the Senator Rashidi Ladoja-led administration.

The prayers of the petitioners were that the state government erred by dissolving them before the expiration of their tenure while also calling for the payment of all emoluments accrued.

Layinka however, noted that the legal battle had been calmed by the Ajimobi-led administration following an out-of-court settlement with the members of the commission as well as an agreement to settle all outstanding emoluments, last year.

He added that Ajimobi continued to use caretaker chairmen so as to prevent a hiatus in the third tier of government.

While noting that other minor cases remained, Layinka said the major limiting case had been addressed hence, Ajimobi’s recent commitment to conducting the election in June.

“About nine years ago, under the Ladoja administration, there was dissolution of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission. The members of that commission approached the court to challenge the dissolution of the OYSIEC on the account that they were yet to see out their tenure.”

“This administration met this legal battle. The members of that commission also requested the full payment of their emoluments. This led to the introduction of an interim government in the past few years so as to prevent a hiatus in the local government system.”