The Federal Government has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the planned Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025. The call comes in the wake of the recent Appeal Court ruling, which reaffirmed the tenure of elected Local Government officials, setting their term to conclude in October 2025.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made this known in a public statement while addressing the ongoing political crisis in the state. He noted that the judgment by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, had effectively nullified a previous ruling by the Federal High Court, Osogbo, which had removed elected local government officials from office.
Fagbemi explained that during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, elections were conducted across all local governments in Osun State, and winners were duly sworn into office. However, shortly before Governor Adeleke assumed office, the Federal High Court in Osogbo invalidated the elections and declared the positions vacant.
Upon assuming office, Governor Adeleke enforced the court ruling by issuing an executive order that removed the elected officials and replaced them with caretaker appointees. However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in the case, appealed the ruling. On February 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned the Federal High Court’s judgment, declaring that the initial suit was incompetent and striking it out.
“The Court of Appeal not only allowed the appeal but also affirmed that the ruling of the Federal High Court was invalid. By implication, the elected Local Government officials who had been removed were legally restored to their positions,” Fagbemi stated.
The AGF further revealed that tensions arose when the reinstated officials attempted to resume office, an action met with resistance from certain groups, leading to unrest in the state. He called on Governor Adeleke to exercise his leadership responsibility by maintaining law and order in compliance with his constitutional mandate.
“According to the facts available to my office, the crisis in Osun State stemmed from the attempt by the legally reinstated officials to return to office, which was resisted by some disgruntled elements. The Governor should have called these elements to order, as part of his duty to uphold peace and order,” Fagbemi added.
Despite the Appeal Court ruling affirming the tenure of the elected officials, Governor Adeleke has continued preparations for new Local Government elections. Fagbemi warned that any such election would not only be legally invalid but would also constitute a violation of the Constitution.
“Any election conducted under these circumstances will be unconstitutional, as the tenure of the elected officials remains valid until October 2025. Furthermore, with the Supreme Court recently reinforcing the autonomy of Local Governments, it is imperative that transitions between elected officials occur smoothly and in accordance with statutory tenure provisions,” the AGF emphasized.
Fagbemi, therefore, advised Governor Adeleke to direct the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to halt the planned elections, stressing that proceeding with them would lead to a constitutional crisis.
“The Governor must ensure that democratic structures at the Local Government level are respected. The ruling of the Court of Appeal must be upheld, and any action contrary to it would amount to a direct affront to the rule of law,” he concluded.
With the Federal Government weighing in on the matter, political observers are keenly watching how the Osun State government will respond, as tensions continue to rise over the state’s Local Government administration.
