The political landscape in Osun State has been thrown into fresh turmoil as Governor Ademola Adeleke officially swore in newly elected local government chairmen and councillors across the state, following the controversial February 22, 2025, elections.
The swearing-in ceremony, currently ongoing, has drawn high-profile political figures, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who are in Osun to demonstrate their solidarity with Adeleke.
Adeleke’s Special Adviser on SDG and Multilateral Relations, Banks Omishore, confirmed the development on X, writing:
“Swearing in of the Local Government Chairmen and their councillors now ongoing. Governor Seyi Makinde @seyiamakinde and Governor Bala Mohammed @SenBalaMohammed of Bauchi are here on a solidarity visit to Governor @AAdeleke_01.”
In another post, he quoted Governor Makinde as urging the newly elected chairmen to uphold their responsibilities with integrity. Makinde also issued a challenge to opposition parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC), to seek legal redress rather than resorting to extrajudicial means.
“The era of using federal might to undermine democracy is over,” Makinde declared.
The local government elections, conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), have been mired in controversy. OSIEC declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victorious in all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state. Chairman of OSIEC, Hashim Abioye, described the elections as peaceful and successful, despite widespread criticisms.
However, the African Action Congress (AAC) has strongly rejected the results, demanding an immediate annulment. In a statement issued on Sunday, AAC’s Publicity Secretary, Akinlade Semiu, described the election as a “sham riddled with irregularities.”
“We demand the immediate cancellation of this sham election due to the blatant disregard for democratic principles displayed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC),” Semiu stated.
The AAC alleged that election materials were absent in many polling units, while in others, OSIEC officials arrived with pre-filled ballots and fabricated results. The party also made damning accusations that sensitive materials were transported to Governor Adeleke’s private residence, where voting and result collation allegedly took place.
The AAC reaffirmed its commitment to challenging the election results through all lawful means, condemning the alleged collusion between the PDP and OSIEC.
Despite PDP’s sweeping victory, the APC has continued to contest the legitimacy of the newly elected officials. The situation took a violent turn when APC supporters, armed with a recent Court of Appeal judgment, attempted to forcibly seize local government offices.
The crisis has its roots in the 2022 local government elections conducted under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola. The elections, which produced APC-affiliated officials, were nullified by a Federal High Court in Osogbo, leading to their removal by Governor Adeleke, who then installed caretaker committees.
However, on February 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Akure overturned the Federal High Court ruling, effectively reinstating the sacked APC officials. The judgment created confusion, with the APC interpreting it as an order to reclaim their offices, while the PDP-led government disputed this interpretation.
Tensions boiled over as APC members stormed local government secretariats across the state, leading to violent clashes that reportedly resulted in at least six deaths. In Osogbo, a senior state government official was allegedly involved in a confrontation with APC supporters over control of a local government secretariat.
In an attempt to settle the leadership dispute, the Osun State High Court in Ilesa issued an order on February 21, 2025, directing OSIEC to proceed with fresh elections to fill the vacant positions. This move was backed by the PDP, which argued that new elections were the only legal resolution to the crisis.
However, Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, warned against the elections, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment reinstating the APC officials. Despite this, the Osun State government pressed forward with the polls, further deepening the political standoff.
As Osun State grapples with the fallout from the fiercely contested elections, the battle for control of local government administration rages on. With the APC refusing to back down and the AAC threatening legal action, the political landscape remains volatile. Whether the judiciary will offer a final resolution or if the crisis will escalate further remains to be seen.
PIONEER NEWS 