Governor Ademola Adeleke has assured that the Osun State local government elections will proceed as planned on Saturday, despite ongoing political disagreements between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Friday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke reaffirmed that the election process would not be halted.
This confirmation comes after a Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated APC-backed local government officials who had been removed from office. The decision has fueled further political tension between both parties over control of the councils.
Earlier, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi had advised against conducting the election. He maintained that the reinstated officials still have a valid tenure until October 2025, and any fresh election would contradict constitutional provisions.
“The Court of Appeal’s judgment means the elected officials have regained their tenure, which runs until October 2025. Any attempt to hold another election now would not only be unconstitutional but would also violate the principles of local government autonomy as recently upheld by the Supreme Court,” Fagbemi cautioned.
Despite this, Governor Adeleke, while meeting with civil society representatives in Osogbo, emphasized that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) was fully prepared for the polls.
“Our people are looking forward to this election. They are eager to elect their representatives at the local government level,” he said.
The governor commended OSSIEC for its preparations and assured that all participating political parties would have a fair contest.
“I urge all political players and stakeholders to embrace democratic values and ensure a peaceful electoral process. This election will serve as a foundation for grassroots development, and I call on our people to remain law-abiding,” he concluded.
