Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has pledged to resolve the ongoing local government crisis through lawful and peaceful means. In a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke emphasized his commitment to upholding due process and the rule of law.
The governor praised the recent judgement by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) local government chairmen and councillors. According to Adeleke, this ruling effectively ended the controversy surrounding the reinstatement of All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors.
“The APC chairmen councillors were sacked by the court, which has affirmed the legitimacy of the PDP chairmen and councillors. Unlike the opposition, we are people of due process,” Adeleke stated.
He further explained that the judgement is being communicated to all relevant stakeholders at both the state and national levels, with the expectation that normalcy will soon be restored in accordance with the law.
The governor also commended the PDP local government officials for their patience and peaceful conduct since their swearing-in, saying, “Your patience and support for the law have paid off.”
In addition, Adeleke lauded security agencies for their dedication to maintaining peace and order in the state. He also appealed to Osun residents to remain calm and avoid actions that could incite violence or hinder progress.
“Evil plots against our dear state on all fronts have been foiled. We must continue to remain peaceful and never allow agents of violence and enemies of the people to drag the state into violence and backwardness,” he warned.
Background to the crisis involves a June 13 ruling by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which dismissed an application by the APC to relist an earlier appeal that was struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution. This ruling upheld a Federal High Court decision that invalidated the 2022 local government elections, which had featured only APC candidates.
The APC, however, disputed that the ruling nullified the election. The legal battle began with a suit filed by the All Peoples Party (APP) challenging the legality of the October 15, 2022 elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC). The APC later joined the case and appealed the Federal High Court’s judgement, but their appeal was struck out for procedural reasons.
The recent dismissal of APC’s attempt to relist the appeal marks another chapter in the prolonged dispute over local government leadership in Osun State.
