The Federal Government has requested Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to suspend the Local Government elections planned for Saturday. Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi made this statement regarding the ongoing crisis in the state.
In a statement issued late Thursday, Fagbemi clarified that the law is clear regarding the tensions between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). THE NATION DIGEST reported that violence erupted over attempts to seize control of Local Government secretariats, resulting in fatalities, including a former council chairman, and numerous injuries.
The Osun state government attributed the unrest to the APC and former governor Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Despite assurances from Adeleke that the election would proceed, urging mass participation, Fagbemi highlighted that the court had nullified the order Adeleke used to dismiss the locally elected chairmen.
The situation stems from a judgment issued by the Court of Appeal on February 10, 2025, which overturned a previous Federal High Court ruling. Fagbemi sought to clarify any misconceptions regarding the legal implications of the Court of Appeal’s decision.
READ ALSO: APC Opts Out of Osun Polls.
Contextually, during Oyetola’s tenure, elections were held for local government officials who were sworn in. However, shortly before Adeleke’s swearing in, the Federal High Court annulled their elections, prompting Adeleke to replace them with caretaker officials upon taking office.
The APC, a party involved in the Federal High Court case, appealed this ruling. The Court of Appeal’s judgment not only granted the APC’s appeal but also deemed the original suit incompetent, effectively restoring the elected local government officials to their positions.
Reports suggest that the push by these officials to resume their roles faced resistance, leading to the recent crisis. Fagbemi remarked that Governor Adeleke, as a leader, should have addressed these dissenting elements to uphold law and order.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s ruling, which reinstates the local officials until their terms end in October 2025, Gov Ademola Adeleke remains firm on holding new Local Government elections on February 22, 2025. Conducting such elections would be unconstitutional and an infringement on the restored officials’ terms, which the Governor is sworn to uphold. Additionally, the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming Local Government autonomy increases the urgency for Adeleke to facilitate a peaceful transition of power as mandated.
Thus, it is crucial for Governor Adeleke to advise the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) against proceeding with any elections at this time.
