An Ekiti State High Court on Friday refused to grant an order seeking to restrain the state’s governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, from sacking the 16 local government council chairmen after he takes the oath of office. The suit was filed to preempt what may happen after Fayemi takes over on Tuesday, October 16.

The council chiefs, led by the chairman of the state’s chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Dapo Olagunju had approached the court seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop Fayemi from sacking them.

In the ruling, Justice Abiodun Adesodun described the application as unmeritorious, pre-emptive and speculative, holding that there was no compelling fact in the application to warrant the order being granted by the court.

Earlier in their submissions, counsels to Fayemi, Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the application on the grounds that the matter was speculative.

Justice Adesodun subsequently adjourned the substantive matter to October 22.