Tension is mounting in Osun State following the refusal of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the state to abide by the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, over the local government election slated for Saturday, February 22, 2025 by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
As a result of bloodletting that greeted the struggle for control of the local councils by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and main opposition All Progressives Congress, Fagbemi waded in and urged Governor Adeleke, to shelve the planned poll.
The Chief Law Officer of the country, apparently agreeing with the APC that the February 10, 2025 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, restored local government officials under the APC who were sacked in 2022 by the Osun State High Court, said it would be illegal for Adeleke and the state electoral commission to proceed with the election.
Fagbemi, in a statement issued on Thursday night, addressed controversies and different interpretations that the appellate court verdict has generated.
Clarifying its legal implications and advising against any actions that may violate the constitution, Fagbemi explained that what the Appeal Court judgement means is that the term of office of the elected officials has regained currency and will naturally run out in October 2025.
Therefore, he warned Adeleke against proceeding with the election, saying 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 judgment of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, but it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.
Notwithstanding the AGF’s plea, Adeleke affirmed that local government election scheduled for tomorrow would hold unfailingly under the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission.
Also, a High Court in Osun sitting in Ilesa on Friday, affirmed that the 30 local government seats remain vacant and that the OSSIEC should proceed with its planned poll.
Presided over by Justice A. Aderibigbe, the court mandated and compelled all security agencies including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps and other agencies to ensure the election is smoothly and peacefully held.
Findings by Investors King have revealed that residents in the state have been thrown into confusion and panic over the development.
Many are in doubts whether the election would still hold and if it would not be marred by violence while others are hopeful that stakeholders would give peace a chance.
With the look of things, Investors King reports that the election, if eventually held, might be marred by apathy over escalation of tension.
