The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the local government election conducted in Osun State on Saturday, February 22, labeling it a “disgraceful sham” and an “illegal, unconstitutional, and contemptuous” act by Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The election which was held on Saturday was won by PDP candidates and they were sworn in on Sunday by the governor
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC criticized Governor Adeleke for disregarding a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, which reinstated elected local government officials sacked by his administration in 2022.
The Court of Appeal had, on February 10, 2025, overturned a Federal High Court ruling that initially nullified the election of the sacked local government officials. According to the APC, this judgment effectively reinstated the affected officials until the expiration of their tenure in October 2025. However, Governor Adeleke proceeded with the local government election despite the ruling, a move the APC described as a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
The party accused the governor of violating Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees a system of democratically elected local government councils. It also alleged that the election was a waste of public resources and an attempt to incite further political tension in the state.
“The purported swearing-in of ‘newly elected’ local government officials by Governor Adeleke constitutes needless political provocation and a renewed threat to peace in Osun State,” the statement read.
The APC urged local government workers to align with the judicially reinstated officials and called on security agencies to ensure law and order in the state. It also advised the federal government to disburse allocations only to legally recognized local government officials.
The party maintained that Governor Adeleke should have appealed to the Supreme Court if dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s ruling instead of resorting to actions that could destabilize the state.
“The people of Osun State deserve to live in peace and security. Governor Adeleke must quit his political infantilism and uphold constitutional order,” the statement concluded.
