Tensions have escalated in Osun State following a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) believe reinstates them. The chairmen are now insisting on resuming their positions in the state’s 30 local government areas after the court’s decision, which they say validates their previous election. These elections, conducted in 2022 during the last days of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration, have been at the heart of a legal and political controversy.
The election in question, a “Yes or No” plebiscite, had already been declared void by the Federal High Court, leading to the sack of the APC chairmen by the current Governor Ademola Adeleke. However, the appeal court ruling has ignited a new battle over legitimacy. APC officials are mobilizing supporters to resume control over the local government councils, but the government remains firm in its position against their return to office.
According to Abiodun Idowu (Ifedayo), the chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, the court’s decision must be respected. He insists that the ruling has effectively reinstated the chairmen, and that only the court can issue further orders. Idowu’s statement reflects the APC chairmen’s resolve to reclaim their offices, as they prepare to present the certified true copy of the judgment to the police for enforcement.
On the other hand, the Osun State Attorney-General, Barrister Oluwole Jimi-Bada, has refuted the claim that the court has reinstated the chairmen. According to Jimi-Bada, the appeal court ruling did not overturn the Federal High Court’s decision, which had declared the 2022 election unconstitutional and void. He argued that the election violated provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and was therefore invalid, leading to the chairmen’s removal.
The unfolding situation has raised concerns over the potential for unrest, with heightened security measures in place around the local government offices. As political leaders from various factions weigh in, there is growing pressure on the state government to clarify its position and avoid escalating the conflict.
Some political groups, such as the Osun Youths Progressives (O-SPY), have urged the state government to respect the court’s decision, while others, like the Osun State Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adewale Adebayo, have warned against the spread of misleading information.
