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Ekiti: Gov Oyebanji Pledges Support For New Federal University, Thanks Tinubu

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biodun Oyebanji - Ekiti State Governor

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has thanked President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Iyin-Ekiti.

President Tinubu, had on Thursday in Abuja, assented to two separate bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin, Ekiti State.

The Governor, in a statement, signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Olayinka Oyebode, on Friday, hailed the President for approving the establishment of the Federal University of Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti.

He said would further enhance educational and technological advancement of the state and the country through manpower development.

Oyebanji said the state government would give maximum support and cooperation for the smooth take off of the new university.

He also thanked President Tinubu for his sundry support for Ekiti State, which he said has aided the socioeconomic and infrastructural development of the state.

The Governor also commended the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele for his tenacity that culminated in the establishment of the institution.

“Our profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin- Ekiti, and for his sundry support for the state which has helped in the socioeconomic and infrastructure development of Ekiti State.

“We commend the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for his tenacity which led to the establishment of the university. We also congratulate all sons and daughters of Iyin-  Ekiti and Ekiti State in general for this historic achievement.

“The Government of Ekiti State would give maximum support to ensure effective take off of the institution in line with the education and human capital development agenda of the administration.”

Court Stops Geometric, Aba Power From Disrupting Supply To Customers

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Abia Geometric Power Plant

By Suleiman Anyalewchi

An Abia State High Court  sitting in Isiala Ngwa, on Thursday, February 20, 2025, granted an interim injunction restraining the authorities of Aba Power Limited from disconnecting electricity supply to its consumers within its area of operational jurisdiction – the Aba Ring Fence which covers nine Council Areas including Isiala Ngwa North.

Ruling in an ex-parte motion filed by Comrades Ike Opigwe, Ojukwu Imo, and Leonard Onyemesiri, on behalf of the Aba Electricity Consumers Forum, AECF, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, also, issued an order allowing the claimants to serve all necessary court papers on the defendants through substituted means.

The defendants include Aba Power Limited Electric, Geometric Power Limited and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC.

The Claimants, in their application, argued that the planned mass disconnection exercise by the Aba Power Limited, if allowed to go on, will have severe negative consequences on consumers and their businesses.

They, therefore, prayed the Court to halt the planned disconnection exercise pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice before  it.

The Source reports that the relationship between the APL and its millions of customers within Aba and environs has suffered severe strain since January 2025.

This followed the decision of the power distribution giant to effect an over 100 % increase in its monthly tariffs .

The policy which commenced in January 2025, has seen the monthly payable tariffs for a one room living apartment or shop, rising to over N54 ,000 .

Similarly, a block of flats, and modest bungalows are being slammed with a monthly estimated bill of between N80,000 and N100,000.

Business concerns, corporate entities and Governmental/Public institutions are given as much as between N500,000 and 1.5 million monthly bills.

The astronomical estimated bills were excruciating enough to force no few than three public protest marches by consumers between January and early February 2025 .

The protesters are particularly miffed by the seemingly insensitive bills and the refusal of the APL to provide its consumers with pre-paid meters as enjoined by regulatory authorities.

Although there has been a remarkable improvement in service delivery since December 2024, the protesting consumers are insisting that the new and arbitrary tariff regime will sooner than later drive them out of business if not checked.

However, the APL and its parent body, Geometric Power has insisted on the necessity of the new tariffs regime.

In an official leaflet availed consumers while officially flagging off the new tariff regime January ending 2025, the power distribution giant  cited the rising cost of operations and maintenance of operational materials as some of the major reasons driving the tariff increase.

“Effective January 1,2025, our electricity tariff has been adjusted in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

“This adjustment is essential to maintaining a reliable and sustainable power supply amidst increasing economic pressures.

“While many other DISCOs adjusted their tariffs as early as April 2024, we kept our tariffs unchanged for months to shield our customers from rising economic pressures. Even now, our tariffs remain within reasonable range even as a100%  privately owned business.

“We have been importing power from the National Grid due to lack of reliable gas supply to our sister Company GPAL

“The wholesale tariff we have been paying for power importation from the NDPHC since inception reached N136/KWh,while our highest tariff to customers up to December 2024 was N117/kWh for MD and 106/kwh for NMD .This resulted in a deficit”,  APL stated.

The Court has adjourned till March 19, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice.

How Abacha Deceived Abiola From Heading Interim National Government – Babangida

By
The Source
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Sani Abacha and MKO Abiola

By Gideon Njoku

General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, the man at the centre of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election, has disclosed that he made “a consolatory” offer to  Chief Moshood Abiola, presumed winner (then)of the election, to head an Interim National Government, while the intrigues which concerned the annulment were being sorted out.

IBB said he made the offer to Abiola after series of brainstorming meetings and consultations, including with Traditional Rulers and Abiola and his family members. But Abiola, IBB disclosed, flatly rejected the offer for two reasons.

One, Abiola already knew he won the Election fair and square. So, why an Interim Head? Why not the main thing?  But the second reason, and most important, according to IBB, was late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who IBB said deceived Abiola.

Pretending to be Abiola’s friend, even though, said IBB, Abacha had a deep rooted hatred for him (Abiola), he convinced him to reject the offer, and instead, gave him the impression that once he,  IBB, is removed from office, he, Abacha, would de-annul June 12, and install Abiola as President.

What Abiola did not know, said IBB, is that Abacha was, literally, the main brain behind the annulment as he, Abacha, was hell bent on the Military not handing over to a Civilian Government.

He, also, said that Abacha and his group were those who deceived Abiola into proceeding on exile, and, arrested and detained him as soon as he came back to Nigeria. Abiola’s absence, he said, gave Abacha and Co. the opportunity to consolidate their plans and position.

These revelations, like claps of thunder, came as IBB tried to  explain exactly the intrigues that surrounded the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential Election which his regime annulled.

32 years after the annulment of the election considered free and fair, General Babangida, the man who announced the annulment, finally, has the courage to publicly admit that indeed, Chief Moshood Abiola, won the Election.

Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, had slugged it out with Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention, NRC.

Writing in his autobiography,  “A Journey In Service” which was presented to the public in Abuja, on Thursday, February 20, IBB said at a point, he told Abiola that both their lives were on the line.

He wrote:

“At one of my several meetings with Abiola, arranged this time by some traditional leaders, I offered Abiola an interim position pending when we could resolve the situation. Not surprisingly, Abiola turned down my offer.

“How could anyone blame him? Since he was convinced that he had won the elections that the annulment had denied him, it seemed overtly inappropriate to accept an interim arrangement. For him, it was a matter of once bitten, twice shy!

“At another meeting, this time a more private meeting of both families, I articulated that our lives were in danger of being snuffed out by lurking forces that wished both of us ill.

“Unfortunately, Abiola turned his back on rapprochement with me and embraced the gimmicks of deceitful ‘friends’ who hid their real intentions from him. I read somewhere, I believe, in one of Abiola’s newspapers,  that Abiola thought that the moment these ‘friends’ overthrew me, the elections would be de-annulled and that he would be installed as President by his ‘coup plotting friends.

“As it turned out, Abiola was advised by these same ‘friends’ to leave the country to avoid death threats from fictitious military elements. Abiola’s departure paved the way for his ‘friends’ to consolidate their conspiratorial positions, eventually leading to another military takeover.

“Without question, one of my biggest headaches at this time was Sani Abacha. I knew that Abacha was ambivalent about a return to civil rule. But I thought, in retrospect now, naively, that he would support our transition to civil rule programme.

“As I said earlier,  Abacha and I had come a long way. We were good friends, and he had indeed been nice to me. As I have said elsewhere, he saved my life once and also risked his life to ensure that I took over in 1985. I could never forget those details.

“But it’s also correct that he was a complex character. He was capable of bottling up a lot inside without giving a hint of where he was. And then, suddenly, the bottle bursts, and we begin to see a different person. I obviously didn’t know everything about him!

“For instance, I was alarmed to discover that he and a handful of others mobilised negative opinions against me within the military, portraying me as the problem.

“That campaign was geared towards a violent military coup to remove me as President forcefully. But even more bizarre for me was my discovery of the loathing that Abacha had for the person of Abiola, whom I thought had a good relationship with him.”

The day Babangida stepped aside, August 15, 1993, he handed over to Chief Ernest Shonekan as the Interim Head of Government.

But in November, 1993, Abacha overthrew the Interim Government set up by Babangida.

He, it was, who arrested Abiola, clamped him into detention for declaring himself President  in April 1994, and charged him for treason.

Both men died suddenly in 1998. Abacha in June 1998, inside Aso Rock, and  Abiola, in July, at his detention centre.

Osun Gov Adeleke Insists LG Election Must Hold

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Ademola Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke

By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has waved aside Federal Government’s order to cancel Saturday’s Local Government Election, insisting that the election  will proceed as planned.

The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), despite objections from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi affirmed that the poll will hold on Saturday.

The AGF had, in a statement, urged the governor to halt the election, citing a Court of Appeal judgement.

On Thursday, Fagbemi argued that elected local government chairpersons must be reinstated following the appellate court’s decision, which overturned a lower court’s ruling that had removed them.

Governor Adeleke maintained that the election must proceed on Saturday, dismissing the AGF’s position and demanding further clarification on the court’s ruling concerning the legality of the sacked local government chairpersons and councillors.

Speaking on Friday while receiving a delegation from a Civil Society Coalition in the state to monitor the elections, Adeleke affirmed that Osun voters are prepared to exercise their franchise.

He also expressed satisfaction with OSSIEC’s level of preparedness.

“I welcome you all to Osun State. Our people are ready for the election tomorrow. They are eager to choose their chairpersons and councillors.

“OSSIEC has done a commendable job in its preparations, according to reports at my disposal. Several political parties are participating, and I believe there will be a level playing field for all to test their popularity.”

Addressing concerns surrounding the election, Adeleke stressed that democracy thrives on the rule of law and that no individual or institution should assume the authority of the courts.

“My advice to all parties, including local and national stakeholders, is to adhere to democratic norms. As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help.

“The election will hold, and its outcome will spur rapid development at the grassroots. I urge our people to remain peaceful. Osun is a truly peaceful state.”

Earlier on Friday, a statement purportedly signed by the governor’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed announced cancellation of the election.

PSC Approves Promotion Of 38 ACPS To DCPS, 100 CSPS To ACPS

By
The Source
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Hashimu Argungu - PSC Chairman

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has approved  the promotion of thirty eight Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners.  The Commission also elevated 100 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners of Police.

The Commission took the decision Thursday,  February 20th 2025 at the continuation of its extraordinary Plenary Meeting holding  at its Corporate Headquarters in Jabi Abuja and presided over by Its Chairman,  DIG. Hashimu Argungu rtd. The Meeting was also attended by Justice  Adamu Paul Galmuje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Commissioner representing the Judiciary; DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, Honourable Commissioner representing the  Police and Chief Onyemuchi Nnamani Secretary to the Commission. 

The new Deputy Commissioners, as released by the Commission, are: Emmanuel  Deenom,  Olufemi Takeet, yusuf Doki Sani,  Joseph  Habakkuk Anche, Faruku Umaru, Danladi Daura, Benedict  Omotomilola Olomo,  Bernard Adedayo Ojewale, Aminudeen Mohammed,  Mohammed lawal  Bello, and  Mohammed sabo Haladu.

Others are; Baba Gana  Saje,  Maman Bello Tambuwal Abubakar  Bello Mustapha, Haruna Adamu, Uzairu Abdullahi,   Dashuwar Tepnyakas,  Braide Elekima,  Usman Garik,  Musa Abdullahi, Kabiru Salisu,  Uchenna Ani, Innocent  Oguejiofor Umuerie Mathew  Obiuwevbi, Gabriel Odiaka Dibie and  Olufemi  Olabanji Kayode, State CID, Osogbo,  Osun State Command. 

Ikenna Kenneth Ezeani, Force Secretary’s Office  Afolaranmi Omotayo, Ibrahim Yidi, Isyaku Usman, Rasaq Abdulsalam, Olajide Agboola, Chioma Onwukaike, Abayomi Agbana, Ibrahim Miringa Musa, Umar  Sokoto Abubakar,  James Ekanem Usen and Dauda Buba Fika were the other Assistant Commissioners promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioners. 

Some of the Chief Superintendents of Police who were promoted to Assistant Commissioners are; Ibrahim Mohammed  Agava, Akinloye Joseph  Oyegade, Rilwanu Mohammed  Dutse, Ibrahim  Aliyu Jauro,  Abdulmajid Isah, Fidelity Lohya Labong, Anthony Olusola Ojo, Ibrahim Muktar, Abdulrahaman  Idris and Aminu Hamza.

Also promoted Assistant Commissioners are; Clement  Ugochukwu Ezejiofor,  Peter  Obiyo Ihechere,  Benjamin  Chidozie Egbu, Joy Ugo Elemoke, Mansur Mahmud Tafida, Area Command  Ido Osi, Ekiti State, Mohammed  Ibrahim second in Command Zonal CID Zone 3, Yola, Jude Ohaja, State CID, Awka, and Chinyere Ajuolachi Akalaga,  DPO, Lokogoma, FCT.

Godfrey  Ogbeide Victor, former DPO Utako, FCT, and now Commander Scorpion Squad Abbattoir, FCT, Banawi  Ishiaku, DPO  Otu Jeremi, Ughelli  South, Delta State, Abbas Abubakar,  DPO Ikot Abasi Akwa Ibom and Celestine Tochukwu Umeh were  also promoted to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners  amongst others.

Chairman of the Commission,  DIG Argungu said the Commission will continue to be faithful in granting deserving Police Officers their due promotion. H e however advised that they should reciprocate Commission’s faithfulness by rededicating themselves to the service of our country.

DIG Argungu said the Commission expect that the war against insurgency and banditry should be given the required attention.

“Bisi Akande Lied, I Never Told Him Ige Will Be Killed If He Resigns From Obasanjo’s Cabinet” – Brig-Gen Rotimi

By
The Source
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Retired Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi and Bisi Akande

By Gideon Njoku

“Investigation into Ige’s murder was not thorough” – Rotimi

90-year old retired Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi, has put a lie to the recent claim by Chief Bisi Akande as it concerns the murder of Chief Bola Ige.

Ige, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Government was gruesomely murdered in his Bodija, Ibadan home on December 23, 2001 under circumstances that, till date, have not been unraveled.

But, recently, Chief Akande, a former Governor of Osun State, President Bola Tinubu’s political ally, and a former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, stirred controversy when he said that Rotimi, a former Military Governor of old Western Region, had called him to tell Ige not to resign from Obasanjo’s Cabinet as he planned to because if he did, he could be killed.

But addressing a press conference to mark his 90th Birthday, Rotimi said Akande’s submission was far from the truth, and a misrepresentation  of what transpired.

According to him, Obasanjo, when he wanted to change his Cabinet called him to speak to Ige not to think of leaving because there was a lot of pressure on Ige to resign from Obasanjo’s Government, including from Professor Wole Soyinka.

His words: There was a lot of pressure on Ige to leave the Obasanjo Government from people, including Professor Wole Soyinka.

“I now advised Chief Bola Ige, ‘Please don’t do it’. Obasanjo did not make a mistake in appointing you a Minister in his Government and he appreciates your usefulness to his Government.

“I did not say if he left, something would happen to him.

“That I advised Chief Ige not to walk out of Obasanjo’s Government is a fact. But I did not tell him there would be consequences should he do it.

“What Akande said is a misrepresentation. He should, as much as possible, get his facts right.

Rotimi, however, expressed disappointment with the investigation of Ige’s murder. He said it was untidy and not thorough.

He said: “They should have gone beyond those who  were his security personnel.

“If you limit your investigation right from the beginning, how do you deal with other facts hanging around which nobody thought about?

“That is the way I feel they should go, but I have learnt, over the years, to close my mouth because I don’t want to say something which I cannot publicly defend in order not to be seen as a fool.”

Nigeria Has ‘No Business’ Producing 2m Barrel Of Crude Oil Per Day- OPEC Chair

By
James Orji
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Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC  says Nigeria has the capacity to produce four million barrel per day, bpd.

He spoke at a business forum in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Thursday organised by Heirs Holdings, owned by Nigeria’s business man, Tony Elumelu

The OPEC board chairman remark comes amidst the struggle by the country to produce two million barrel set for it by the international oil cartel, due to some intervening factors including the restiveness in the country’s Niger Delta, apart from the serious crude oil theft in the creeks which has marred the sector for years.

The situation, according to experts, has affected the nation’s revenue which is highly dependent on oil income.

According to the figures obtained from the government-controlled oil firm, the NNPC Limited as of November 2024, Nigeria’s crude oil production peaked at 1.8 million barrels per day bpd.

In spite of the seeming challenges, Adeyemi-Bero hinted that Nigeria has no business producing “below two million barrels a day’, saying she has proved this by attaining 1.7 million barrel per day in January this year.

He said efforts should be made to further attain four million crude production,  noting that this is not impossible considering that the country already showed the capacity to achieve this. M

According to him, “I think the important thing we should understand is that with Nigeria’s reserves and resources, it doesn’t have any business being below two million barrels a day. Nigeria should be doing two and a half, three, or four million barrels a day with its resource base. And I believe we can do it. And I do believe that even those in OPEC and around the world believe that, but we have to demonstrate that we can actually produce that.

“What happened in January is a major demonstration. The country demonstrated that it can deliver above 1.5mbpd. I think that’s the beginning of giving confidence that we can get more quotas.”

My Ideals Align With APC, Peter Obi’s Ally Who Dumped Labour Party; His Guber Plans

By
James Orji
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As tongues continue to wag over his defection from the Labour Party, businessman Valentine Ozigbo has explained the reason behind his decision.

Ozigbo, a former governorship candidate of the LP in the last election in Anambra state dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC this week opening the doors for speculations among keen political pundits.

His departure from the party, further raised controversy, considering that he’s a close ally of Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the party.

Explaining why he resigned from the LP Ozigbo said his progressives ideals aligned with the APC as a forward looking party, and the quest to “uplift the people of Anambra and Nigeria at large’ propelled him to dump his former party.

The former LP guber candidate who spoke when members of the APC in Amesi Ward visited his home on Thursday, said he has since been warmly welcome by the members of his new party.

He said his membership of the APC has been completed in his ward.

He said,  “This historic decision was formalised today (Thursday) when I completed my registration as a member of the APC at my ward in Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“I was warmly received by party executives and stakeholders at the ward and local government levels. My decision to join the APC is driven by my deep-rooted belief in progressive governance, my desire to work alongside forward-thinking leaders, and my determination to champion policies that will uplift the people of Anambra and Nigeria at large.”

Sources however informed the magazine that Ozigbo still has his eyes set on the governorship seat, which he believed is difficult to achieve under the LP.

Dele Giwa’s Murder: I’m Clean As A Whistle- IBB

By
James Orji
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Former military dictator Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida says the mystery behind the murder of renowned journalist Dele Giwa, will one day be revealed, despite past efforts to do this have failed.

General Babangida who ruled the country between 1984 and 1993 has been fingered in the deaths of some Nigerians including the fearless Giwa, who was the Editor in chief of Newswatch at the time for opposing his dictatorship.

Giwa was killed in Lagos with a parcel bomb suspected tohave the imprimatur of the regime. In fact, not a few have accused Babangida of direct involvement in the bloody murder.

Many years after the incident, security agencies have yet to uncover those behind the murder, amidts suggestions of a government cover-up in other to stop those involved from been exposed.

But in his book, ‘A Journey In Service’ launched in Abuja on Thursday IBB as he’s fondly called denied culpability in the murder of the popular journalist

He accused the media and security agencies of not doing enough to get to the bottom of the murder, saying whether now or in the future the mystery surrounding it will become a public item.

IBB said, “The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards the government, which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heyday.”

He explained the futility of past government efforts to get to the bottom of the murder.

According to him, “When the Obasanjo civilian administration reopened the Giwa case at the Oputa Panel on Human and Civil Rights, I expected that the police and lawyers would come forward with new evidence as to their findings on the Giwa murder over the years.

“Nothing of such happened. The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us. More often than not, mysterious crimes are solved long after their commission.”

Meanwhile, Omoyele Sowore, an activist, in his response to the book said the former dictator cannot exonerate his regime for what happened to Giwa, and other killing that happened under the regime.

Apart from this, Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters said in a post he shared on his X handle that IBB must be held responsible for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by the late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

IBB said he was forced to annul the election won by the late business mogul.

“Today, former Nigerian dictator Ibrahim Babangida will launch his book, which is expected to falsely blame late General Sanni Abacha, another wicked dictator, for the annulment of June 12 elections, on doing so he will be admitting they were free and fair. Babangida’s narrative will be totally false as his life and times have always been! Don’t forget Babangida killed journalist Dele Giwa via parcel bomb in 1986. He murdered several military officers and bosom friends in phantom coup d’etat, he crashed a plane filled with military officers, he stole billions from the Nigerian national treasury, destroyed the Nigerian economy through SAP and introduced a fake transition program that he personally aborted in 1993. As usual he will blame someone else for all these,” Sowore said.

FG Asks Gov Adeleke To Stop Conduct Of Osun LG Poll, Backs Court Of Appeal Ruling On Tenure Of Chairmen

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ademola Adeleke - Osun State Governor
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has taken position in the ongoing rift in Osun State over the return of sacked Local Government Chairmen to office.

Reacting through the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, (AGF)  Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal Government insisted that the only way out of the logjam is for Governor Ademola Adeleke to stop the conduct of the Local Government election slated for Saturday.

The FG pointed out that as the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor should direct the State Independent Electoral Commission not to go ahead with the poll.

The statement released on Thursday night stated that “My attention has been drawn to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s response to the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, in Appeal No. CA/AK/272/2022, which overturned the Federal High Court’s decision of November 25, 2022.

“Under Oyetola’s leadership, local government elections were conducted, and the winners were sworn into office.

“However, just before Adeleke took over, the Federal High Court nullified the process, resulting in their removal. Upon assuming office, Adeleke implemented the court’s decision by replacing them with caretaker committees.

“The AGF further noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged this decision in the Court of Appeal, which ruled in their favor, declaring the High Court’s judgment invalid and reinstating the removed officials.

“This ruling effectively restores the previously ousted local government officials. However, attempts by these officials to resume their duties have faced resistance. As the state’s leader, Governor Adeleke is responsible for ensuring law and order.

“Despite this judgment, Adeleke has maintained plans to conduct fresh local government elections on February 22, 2025.”

The AGF warned that such an election would be unconstitutional since the reinstated officials still have a valid tenure until October 2025.

“Any election held under these circumstances would be illegal and a direct violation of the constitution, which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.”

He also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, stressing that the statutory three-year tenure must be honored.

“When a court ruling is deemed a nullity due to lack of jurisdiction, it carries no legal weight. The Court of Appeal’s judgment remains the only valid legal position, confirming the reinstatement of the elected local government officials.”

Fagbemi urged Governor Adeleke to respect the rule of law and avoid actions that could lead to political unrest in the state.

“Violence benefits no one. The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) should reconsider its plans for a local government election at this time.”

He concluded by expressing readiness to engage in dialogue with the governor to ensure peace and stability in Osun State. “My office remains open for discussions in the interest of peace in Osun and Nigeria at large.”

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