By John Dike, Osogbo
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, and the reinstated council chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have accused the state government of deliberately instigating crises over the control of local government councils to create public disorder across the state.
They warned individuals elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 22, 2025 local government election against what they described as a “misinterpretation” of the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo, Barrister (Chief) Adegoke Ogunsola, legal Adviser to APC said the party elected chairmen remain the lawful occupants of the councils, stressing that the June 15, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court has already been appealed and a motion for stay of execution filed.
According to him, any attempt by the PDP-elected chairmen and councillors to resume at council secretariats while the appeal is pending would amount to a breach of due process and could trigger avoidable tension in the state.
Ogunsola recalled that the reinstated APC chairmen and councillors had approached the Federal High Court, Osogbo, on September 12, 2025, seeking judicial interpretation on the commencement and duration of their tenure under relevant provisions of Osun State laws.
He noted that although the court dismissed the suit in the judgment delivered on June 15, 2026, the decision has since been challenged at the Court of Appeal, while an application for stay of execution dated June 16, 2026, has been served on all parties involved.
“The Osun State Government and its political allies have taken the dismissal of the suit as a validation of the local government election purportedly conducted on February 22, 2025. This interpretation is misleading and capable of causing unrest,” he stated.
The APC leaders accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of attempting to plunge the state into avoidable chaos by requesting police protection for PDP officials he described as elected local government officers.
According to them, such action by the governor was “embarrassing, condemnable and dangerous,” especially as the judgment being relied upon is already a subject of appeal.
They stressed that the PDP chairmen and councillors were not parties to the suit and that no relief was granted in their favour by the Federal High Court.
“The police are aware that an appeal has been filed and have equally been served with the motion for stay of execution. Any attempt to enforce the judgment now will only lead to a breakdown of law and order,” Ogunsola said.
Purported February 2025 Election a Nullity, APC Insists
The APC officials further argued that the Federal High Court itself held that the tenure of the elected chairmen inaugurated in October 2022 expired in October 2025, irrespective of interruptions caused by violence and litigation.
Quoting from page 83 of the judgment, they said the court held that interruptions in tenure could not extend the tenure beyond October 2025.
They contended that since the APC officials were still in office as of February 22, 2025, when the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) conducted fresh elections and Governor Adeleke swore in PDP officials on February 23, 2025, those exercises were carried out during the subsistence of an existing tenure and are therefore being challenged before the Court of Appeal.
“This issue has been placed before the appellate court and the government ought to respect the rule of law instead of attempting to force people into the councils through the back door,” they said.
Government Lacks Respect for Rule of Law – APC
The APC chairmen accused the Adeleke administration of exhibiting disregard for the rule of law, alleging that government officials and legal advisers have continued to offer interpretations of the judgment that suit their political interests.
They also criticized the Commissioner for Information for allegedly embarking on media campaigns aimed at misleading the public about the implications of the court ruling.
According to them, the people of Osun are sufficiently enlightened and would not be deceived by what they described as misinformation and propaganda.
Residents Urged to Remain Peaceful
The reinstated chairmen called on residents to remain law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses, insisting that no court order authorizes any group to invade local government secretariats.
They warned that any breakdown of law and order arising from attempts to forcefully take over the councils should be blamed on the Osun State Government.
The group also commended security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other law enforcement agencies for what they described as professionalism and commitment to maintaining peace in the state.
They urged all parties to await the determination of the pending appeal and allow the judiciary to finally resolve the lingering dispute over the control of local governments in Osun State.
