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The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has asked the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
The justice minister affirmed that the Court of Appeal, Akure division, on February 10, 2025, effectively nullified the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on November 25, 2022.
The AGF said the verdict of the appellate court implied that the All Progressives Congress (APC) local council chairmen formerly sacked by the lower court have been restored.
He said, “Accordingly, the judgement of the Court of Appeal had by implication effectively restored the elected Local Government officials removed by the Federal High Court, back to their offices.
“According to the facts made available to my office, it was the attempt by the said elected officials to resume back in their positions that was resisted by some disgruntled elements which led to the crisis.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke is no doubt aware of this scenario and ought, as a leader to have called the disgruntled elements to order in accordance with his Oath of Office to maintain law and order in Osun State.
“Notwithstanding the judgment of the Court of Appeal referenced above, which in effect means that the term of office of the elected officials has regained currency and will naturally run out in October, 2025, His Excellency has insisted that a new Local Government election shall be held on Saturday, 22nd February, 2025.
“Any such election that may be held will not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.
“Again, the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which has validated and entrenched Local Government autonomy also strengthens the obligation on Governor Adeleke to ensure smooth, non-violent transition from one elected officials to another in accordance with the statutorily prescribed 3 year tenure.”
At least six persons have been confirmed dead since Monday, when APC and PDP members clashed in Osun State over the control of local government councils.
Before the clash, the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, raised the alarm on Sunday that APC members backed by security agencies want to hijack the council secretariats in the state.
The governor, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had also asked President Bola Tinubu to caution one of his ministers, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, over the impending clash.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun has officially withdrawn from the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22.
In a letter dated February 17, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission,the APC explained that its withdrawal was based on the February 10 ruling by the Court of Appeal.
The court’s judgment reinstated the party’s chairmen and councillors, which rendered the upcoming local government elections unnecessary, according to the party.
“Recall that the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHF/OS/CS/94/2022 was successfully nullified on February 10 by the Court of Appeal in Akure, in appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022 between APC and 3 others versus the Peoples Democratic Party and others,” the letter read.
The APC stated that as a result of the court’s ruling, the elected officers have resumed their positions, making the seats no longer vacant. Hence, participation in the scheduled election would be redundant.
“We hereby state that APC and all its candidates have by this letter informed the commission that we withdraw from the local government election scheduled for February 22. The election has become unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful in light of these developments,” the party further said in the letter.