The Federal Government has directed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to suspend the Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
This decision follows growing tensions in the state, where clashes between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have resulted in violence.
Some individuals, including a former council chairman, were killed in the clashes, and many others were injured as a result of a struggle over control of local government offices.
In a statement released on Thursday, Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), explained that the legal situation surrounding the elections had become complicated due to a recent court ruling.
According to Fagbemi, the Court of Appeal had overturned the previous judgment from the Federal High Court, which had earlier declared the local government elections under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola invalid.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling, delivered on February 10, 2025, restored the elected officials, confirming that their term of office will continue until October 2025.
Governor Adeleke had initially insisted that the elections would go ahead, despite the court ruling.
He had urged the people of Osun State to vote, claiming that nothing would stop the elections from taking place.
However, Fagbemi argued that holding the elections would violate the law, as the term of office of the current elected local government officials is still in effect.
He stated that proceeding with the elections would be an illegal action and a serious breach of the Constitution, which Adeleke has sworn to uphold.
The conflict began when Adeleke, after assuming office, removed the local government chairmen elected under the administration of Oyetola and appointed caretakers.
This move was met with resistance from those who believed the elections had been unfairly annulled.
According to Fagbemi, the violence that followed these actions was partly due to the refusal of some groups to accept the decision of the court, which had ruled in favor of the elected officials.
Fagbemi also pointed out that recent rulings by the Supreme Court had strengthened the principle of Local Government autonomy, further reinforcing the need for a peaceful and lawful transition of power.
He urged Adeleke to ensure that no elections take place until the current term of office expires in October 2025.
The AGF concluded by calling on Governor Adeleke to advise the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to cancel any plans to proceed with the elections, as holding them would not only be unlawful but also go against the principles of the Constitution.
