Osun APC Insists Sacked Chairmen Remain Recognized LG Officials

By Ayodele Oni

PDP wins in all Councils, winners may be sworn-in today

Even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all the seats in the February 22, Osun State Local Council Election, the  All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the state has called on the Local Government Chairmen and Councilors returned to office  to continue with their work.

Citing a still seeming controversial Court of Appeal ruling which reinstated them in office, the APC forcefully took over the Local Government Headquarters, and pushed out the interim officers of the PDP. Insisting that their tenure would end in October, 2025, the  APC, also, opted out of the Saturday Election.

However, with the results declared,  PDP Governor Ademola Adeleke has vowed o swear in the Chairmen and Councilors elected during the Saturday election on Sunday to enable them resume on Monday.

But a statement by the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Kola Olabisi, stated that the reinstated Chairmen and Councilors remain the elected officials to run the Local Government affairs in the State.

This, not a few people fear, has set tye tone for a possible clash between members of both parties which could degenerate into a full blown crisis.

Said the APC Publicity Secretary in a statement: “We want to make it abundantly clear that it is imperative for the elected APC Local Government Chairmen and Councilors not to cease from  resumption at their various Local Government Council Areas in order to continue to serve the deprived people at the grassroots level of Government.

“The APC is a party founded on the rule of law which is the reason the Court of Appeal judgement given at the Akure Division, Akure, Ondo State, on the 10th of February, 2025, is the basic instrument of your reinstatement.

“We are not unaware of the fact that some disgruntled elements who are emboldened by the lawless government of the day in Osun State are planning to invade the Local Government Council Areas across the State.

“We would like to enjoin the state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of the DSS and the State Comptroller of the Civil Defence to be on watch out with a view to keeping peace in all the Local Government Council Areas in the State.

“It is also important to appeal to parents and guardians across the State to warn their children and wards to desist from being recruited as political thugs by disgruntled and failed politicians who are hell-bent in disturbing the peace of the State.

“We are reinstating our statement again that there are no vacancies for elected offices at the Local Government Council level in all the Local Government Council Areas in Osun State.”

Earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had asked Governor Adeleke not to go ahead with the election, citing the Court of Appeal judgement. Also, the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, expressed same sentiment. But the very determined Governor called their bluff.

In the Saturday election, the Police abstained from their duty. Instead, they sealed the Headquarters of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, and allegedly, brutalized and arrested a number of Staff.

However, the election which Governor Adeleke said over 60 percent of registered voters participated in, went on peacefully. After he voted, Adeleke hailed President Bola Tinubu as a true democrat who would always respect the rule of law.