By John Dike, Osogbo
Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), in Osun State has appealed for calm among residents following the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on the tenure of reinstated local government chairmen and councillors, insisting that the legal battle over the controversial councils leadership dispute is far from over.
The ouncil chairmen and councillors, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they would immediately challenge the verdict at the Court of Appeal and pursue all available constitutional remedies to protect what they described as their lawful mandate.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, on Monday dismissed a suit filed by the reinstated council officials seeking judicial clarification on the duration of their tenure and other related issues arising from the prolonged local government crisis in Osun State.
Reacting to the judgment, Osun ALGON leadership maintained that while it respects the court, it strongly disagrees with the verdict and believes substantial legal issues remain unresolved, particularly as appeals relating to the matter are already pending before the Court of Appeal.
In a statement personally signed by the Chairman of Osun ALGON, Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, the association said it had instructed its legal team to immediately begin the process of challenging the ruling at the appellate court.
According to the statement, the suit, marked FHC/OS/CS/147/2025, was instituted by the reinstated chairmen and councillors elected on October 15, 2022, following what they described as efforts by the state government to remove them from office despite the Court of Appeal judgment of February 10, 2025, which reinstated them.
The association recalled that the matter was filed in September 2025 and subsequently generated a series of interlocutory applications and appeals, some of which are still pending before the appellate court.
ALGON noted that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had sat on aspects of the case on June 3, 2026, and adjourned proceedings until September 28, 2026.
The chairmen argued that despite the pendency of appeals and an application seeking a stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court proceeded to deliver judgment, a development they said would now be subjected to further judicial scrutiny.
Justice Demi-Ajayi, in the judgment, held that the tenure of the reinstated local government officials expired in October 2025.
However, ALGON contended that the implication of the ruling goes beyond the issue of tenure and raises significant legal questions concerning the local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on February 22, 2025.
The association argued that if the court held that the tenure of the reinstated officials subsisted until October 2025, then the election conducted in February of the same year and the swearing-in of officials a day later would be difficult to reconcile with existing legal and constitutional provisions.
The council officials further dismissed reports suggesting that the judgment automatically removed them from office, describing such interpretations as politically motivated and legally inaccurate.
According to ALGON, the reinstated chairmen and councillors remain in office pending the determination of appeals and other legal processes available under the Constitution.
“We urge members of the public not to be misled by propaganda and political interpretations being circulated in some quarters. The judicial process has not been exhausted, and we remain committed to pursuing our constitutional rights through lawful means,” the statement said.
The association emphasized that the dispute remains within the jurisdiction of the courts and called on residents to avoid actions capable of disrupting public peace.
ALGON also reassured communities across the state that local government administration would continue uninterrupted while legal proceedings continue.
The council officials urged supporters of all political parties to conduct themselves peacefully and refrain from inflammatory statements capable of escalating tensions.
While expressing confidence in the judiciary, the association said the Court of Appeal would have the opportunity to review the issues raised in the case and provide further clarity on the legal questions surrounding the tenure dispute and the status of local government administration in Osun State.
The statement also called on security agencies to remain vigilant and ensure the maintenance of law and order across the state’s 30 local government areas and the area office.
ALGON alleged that some individuals were attempting to exploit the court judgment to create confusion and tension in certain council areas, warning that any attempt to undermine lawful authority or provoke unrest should be firmly addressed within the ambit of the law.
The local government crisis has remained one of the most contentious political issues in Osun State, with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and the opposition APC advancing differing interpretations of court judgments affecting the administration of local councils.
Observers believe the latest Federal High Court judgment and the expected appeal could further shape the legal and political landscape ahead of future electoral activities in the state.
For now, the reinstated chairmen insist they remain in office, while attention shifts to the Court of Appeal, where the next phase of the legal contest is expected to unfold in the coming months.
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