By Ghazali Ibrahim
Despite a clear directive from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), urging the Osun State Government to cancel its upcoming local government elections, Governor Ademola Adeleke has firmly reiterated that the elections will go ahead as planned.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke affirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law, and assured that Osun remains a peaceful state. He emphasized that all parties should respect democratic processes and norms.
“My advice to all parties, including local and national stakeholders, is to abide by democratic norms,” the statement read.
“As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help. Election is going to hold, and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level. I urge our people to remain peaceful.”
The conflict stems from a ruling by the Court of Appeal (Akure Division) on February 10, 2025, which nullified a previous Federal High Court judgment that had dismissed elected local government officials.
The AGF cited this ruling, which effectively reinstated the dismissed officials, whose tenure would legally continue until October 2025.
In his directive, AGF Fagbemi argued that the reinstated local government officials should serve out their tenure and criticized Adeleke’s insistence on holding new elections.
Fagbemi warned that going ahead with the elections would not only be unconstitutional but also a breach of the Constitution, which Governor Adeleke had sworn to uphold.
“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment is that the elected officials removed by the Federal High Court have been reinstated and are legally occupying their offices,” Fagbemi stated.
Fagbemi also referenced the recent Supreme Court ruling that affirmed local government autonomy, stressing that the Osun State Government must respect the tenure of the reinstated officials, as per the court’s decision.
