Osun LG Polls Will Hold As Scheduled – Governor Adeleke Insists

Governor Ademola Adeleke has vowed that the scheduled Saturday, February 22, 2025 Local Government Councils’ elections in Osun State will proceed as planned.

This is in spite ongoing political disagreements between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

Governor Adeleke in a statement on Friday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stressed that the election process would not be halted.

The confirmation came after an Appeal Court judgement that reinstated APC-backed local government officials who were earlier removed from office.

Accordingly, the decision has exacerbated political tension between both the PDP and APC over control of the local government councils.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Thursday, counselled against conducting the local government election in Osun State, saying that the judgement of the Court of Appeal reinstated the earlier sack elected local government officials.

Fagbemi explained that since the reinstated officials still have a valid tenure till October 2025, any conduct of fresh election would contradict constitutional provisions.

In the words of Fagbemi; “The Court of Appeal’s judgment means the elected officials have regained their tenure, which runs until October 2025.

“Any attempt to hold another election now would not only be unconstitutional but would also violate the principles of local government autonomy as recently upheld by the Supreme Court,” he warned.

Governor Adeleke however declared the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) was fully prepared for the polls, adding that the people of the State are looking forward to the election.

Adeleke, who stated this at a meeting with representatives of civil society organisations in Osogbo, said that the people of Osun are eager to elect their representatives at the local government level.

He commended OSSIEC for its preparations and assured that all participating political parties would have a fair contest.

He said; “I urge all political players and stakeholders to embrace democratic values and ensure a peaceful electoral process.

“This election will serve as a foundation for grassroots development, and I call on our people to remain law-abiding,” Adeleke stressed.