ABUJA: The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to halt the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025. Fagbemi emphasized that the Court of Appeal, Akure division, had nullified the Federal High Court’s decision made on November 25, 2022, which had previously removed the elected local government officials.
The AGF pointed out that the appellate court’s ruling effectively reinstates the All Progressives Congress (APC) local council chairmen who had been dismissed by the lower court. Since Monday, clashes between APC and PDP members over control of local government councils in the state have resulted in at least six deaths.
Before the violence erupted, Governor Adeleke, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raised concerns that APC members, backed by security agencies, were attempting to take control of the council secretariats. The governor also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to caution one of his ministers, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, about the escalating situation.
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Fagbemi stated, “The ruling of the Court of Appeal effectively reinstates the elected local government officials who had been removed by the Federal High Court. It was their attempt to resume office that was met with resistance by certain disgruntled elements, which led to the crisis.”
The AGF further noted that Governor Adeleke, as the leader of the state, should have taken action to prevent the unrest in accordance with his oath of office to maintain law and order.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which restores the officials’ terms of office until October 2025, Governor Adeleke has insisted on holding new local government elections on February 22, 2025. Fagbemi argued that any such election would be not only invalid but also a serious breach of the Constitution, which Governor Adeleke is sworn to uphold.
In addition, the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming Local Government autonomy strengthens Governor Adeleke’s duty to ensure a peaceful and lawful transition between elected officials, in line with the prescribed three-year tenure.
