By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has welcomed the Federal High Court ruling dismissing an application seeking tenure elongation for local government chairmen elected under the administration of former governor Gboyega Oyetola, describing the judgment as a victory for constitutional democracy.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, he said the court’s decision reaffirmed the constitutional position that tenure elongation is illegal and validated previous judicial pronouncements on the issue.
“I congratulate our authentic elected chairmen on the court ruling today. The dismissal of the elongation request conforms with the stipulations of the constitution. The judgment further validates the precedent set by the Supreme Court ruling that tenure elongation is unconstitutional,” the governor said.
According to him, the court also held that the affected chairmen lacked the legal standing to institute the case, stressing that their tenure had effectively lapsed since October 2025.
Following the judgment, Adeleke called on the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Osun State Police Command to withdraw security protection allegedly being provided to the former council chairmen occupying local government secretariats across the state.
The governor also urged the Commissioner of Police to end what he described as security support for the “illegal occupation” of council offices.
Adeleke further accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of collaborating with the former chairmen in the management of local government funds and demanded that the bank allow legally recognised signatories to operate the accounts.
He maintained that local government funds should be protected and made available for the payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and other entitlements.
The governor equally called on security agencies to facilitate the restoration of what he described as duly elected local government chairmen, insisting that such action would align with constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
