February 22, (THEWILL) – Residents of Osun State trooped out on Saturday to elect chairmen and councillors who will oversee the affairs of local governments in the state.
The election comes amid legal disputes over the tenure of former council officials, with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, declaring the poll unconstitutional.
Citing the legal implications of a recent Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, which reinstated sacked local government officials, Fagbemi noted that the ruling overturned an earlier Federal High Court decision that nullified their election under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
He also referenced a Supreme Court judgment affirming local government autonomy and warned that any fresh election under the current circumstances would be invalid.
However, on Friday, Justice A. Aderigbigbe of the Osun State High Court ruled in favor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), upholding the earlier Federal High Court decision that voided the election of local government officials under Oyetola.
The court reaffirmed that the officials had been sacked in the case FHC/CS/OS/103/2022 (APP vs. INEC & Ors), delivered on November 30, 2022, and confirmed by the Court of Appeal ruling in CA/AK/226M/2024 (APM & Ors vs. APP & Ors) on January 13, 2025, which stated that vacancies existed in the local councils.
Justice Aderigbigbe directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with the elections and ordered security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to ensure adequate security before, during, and after the polls.
Speaking after casting his vote at Sagba/Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9 in Ede, Governor Ademola Adeleke described the election as peaceful and in line with due process. He underscored the importance of grassroots democracy and urged residents to participate without fear of intimidation.
“I encourage everyone to come out and cast their votes. The election will be peaceful,” he assured.
