AGF Fagbemi to Adeleke: Why Osun LG election can’t hold on Saturday

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi on Thursday asked Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke, to abandon plans to conduct local government election in the state next Saturday.

Fagbemi, in a statement said the conduct of the election will not be necessary as local government chairpersons elected on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the state are supposed to be in office till October, 2025, going by the judgment of Court of Appeal, Akure division, of February 10, 2025.

The Attorney General said the appeal court judgment which nullified the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on November 25, 2022 implied APC local council chairmen formerly sacked by the lower court have been restored.

Fagbemi said, “Accordingly, the judgement of the Court of Appeal had by implication effectively restored the elected Local Government officials removed by the Federal High Court, back to their offices.

“According to the facts made available to my office, it was the attempt by the said elected officials to resume back in their positions that was resisted by some disgruntled elements which led to the crisis.

“His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke is no doubt aware of this scenario and ought, as a leader to have called the disgruntled elements to order in accordance with his Oath of Office to maintain law and order in Osun State.

“Notwithstanding the judgment of the Court of Appeal referenced above, which in effect means that the term of office of the elected officials has regained currency and will naturally run out in October, 2025, His Excellency has insisted that a new Local Government election shall be held on Saturday, 22nd February, 2025.

“Any such election that may be held will not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.

“Again, the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which has validated and entrenched Local Government autonomy also strengthens the obligation on Governor Adeleke to ensure smooth, non-violent transition from one elected officials to another in accordance with the statutorily prescribed 3 year tenure.”

However. Gov. Ademola Adeleke had in a broadcast on Thursday insisted that the local government election will go on.

The Governor said the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not order the reinstatement of APC) chairmen and councillors elected in 2022.

“As a government, we have read through the said judgment. We have submitted it to the best of legal minds for interpretation.

“There is nowhere a reinstatement order was issued.

“No matter the manner of misinterpretation, that judgment contained no consequential order nor any reinstatement directive.

“We have confidence in the democratic credentials of President Bola Tinubu, who we know will always insist on the rule of law,” the governor said.

Adeleke urged residents of the state to continue to sustain the peace that had returned to the state.

“We need peaceful coexistence to expand our good governance delivery of the past two years. Osun state remains truly peaceful.

“Finally, I urge all registered voters to vote in the local government election and conduct themselves peacefully at all times,” he said.