The Federal Government has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, citing legal concerns and potential constitutional violations.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi made this call in a statement on Thursday, addressing the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The crisis stems from a dispute between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over control of local government councils. Violence erupted recently, leading to casualties, including the killing of a former council chairman, as factions clashed over access to secretariats.
Governor Adeleke had removed elected local government officials, who were put in place under the administration of his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola. However, the Court of Appeal recently nullified the governor’s order, effectively reinstating the ousted officials and extending their tenure until October 2025.
Fagbemi emphasized that proceeding with the elections would be unconstitutional, as the tenure of the reinstated officials remains valid. He urged Adeleke to respect the court ruling and direct the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to halt the elections.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal has effectively restored the elected local government officials back to their offices. Any attempt to hold new elections before their tenure expires in October 2025 would be invalid and a breach of the Constitution,” Fagbemi stated.
The AGF also called on Governor Adeleke to take responsibility for maintaining law and order in the state, urging him to prevent further escalation of tensions.
