Christopher Alao-Akala
Encyclopedia
Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (born June 3, 1950) is a Nigeria
n politician
and the current Governor of Oyo State
, Nigeria. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
, who had been impeached by the state House of Assembly. The impeachment was challenged in the courts on the basis of it being illegally carried out by the less than two-thirds majority requirement of the constitution. With only 18 of the 32-member House of Assembly voting in favor of removal, the majority claims that suspended members are not required to be considered in determining two-thirds majority.
Alao-Akala's term ended on December 12, 2006 after the Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan which declared the impeachment process of Rasheed Ladoja
null and illegal
. The election was contested, but the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan
, the highest court of jurisdiction for Governorship election petitions in Nigeria, finally affirmed the election by dismissing all petitions against his election on March 17, 2009.
Chief Alao Akala, who holds the Yoruba
aristocratic title of Otunba, erected a statue of the "Unknown Soldier" to replace that of the tribe's revered icon, Chief Obafemi Awolowo
, causing widespread consternation across western Nigeria. In 2011, he however lost his re-election bid to Senator Abiola Ajimobi who he defeated in 2007 elections
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the current Governor of Oyo State
Oyo State
Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....
, Nigeria. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Appointed Governor
Christopher Alao-Akala first occupied the office of Governor on January 12, 2006 when as the deputy governor he replaced the governor Rasheed LadojaRasheed Ladoja
Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja is a businessman who became governor of Oyo State in Nigeria on 29 May 2003 as a member of the People's Democratic Party . He was impeached in January 2006, but reinstated in December 2006...
, who had been impeached by the state House of Assembly. The impeachment was challenged in the courts on the basis of it being illegally carried out by the less than two-thirds majority requirement of the constitution. With only 18 of the 32-member House of Assembly voting in favor of removal, the majority claims that suspended members are not required to be considered in determining two-thirds majority.
Alao-Akala's term ended on December 12, 2006 after the Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan which declared the impeachment process of Rasheed Ladoja
Rasheed Ladoja
Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja is a businessman who became governor of Oyo State in Nigeria on 29 May 2003 as a member of the People's Democratic Party . He was impeached in January 2006, but reinstated in December 2006...
null and illegal
Elected Governor
Christopher Alao-Akala was elected in the 2007 general electionNigerian general election, 2007
The Nigerian general elections of 2007 were held on 14 April and 21 April 2007. Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 April, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 April. Umaru Yar'Adua won the highly controversial election for the...
. The election was contested, but the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, the highest court of jurisdiction for Governorship election petitions in Nigeria, finally affirmed the election by dismissing all petitions against his election on March 17, 2009.
Chief Alao Akala, who holds the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
aristocratic title of Otunba, erected a statue of the "Unknown Soldier" to replace that of the tribe's revered icon, Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...
, causing widespread consternation across western Nigeria. In 2011, he however lost his re-election bid to Senator Abiola Ajimobi who he defeated in 2007 elections