By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
A fresh crisis may break out today between the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) over the outcome of the local government election conducted last Saturday in Osun State as the two parties have claimed “legality” of their respective contentious positions.
The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has sworn in the newly elected chairmen and councilors yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, and charged them on the importance of good service delivery the people at the grassroots in line with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) commitment to the rule of law.
The governor also asked the elected officials to “stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.
“An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the chairman and councilors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025”, he said.
The governor maintained that, “An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the chairman and councilors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025”.
In a preemptive step to avoid threats of violent clash, the governor urged the officials to stay away from the secretariat for now.
The swearing in held at Government house Osogbo, the state capital was witnessed by Governors of PDP, senators, Members of House of Representatives, and other personalities.
On the other hand, the main opposition party in the state, All Progressive Congress (APC), has directed its reinstated local government chairmen and councilors to resume duties on Monday, February 24, 2025 (today).
This directive follows a Court of Appeal judgment on February 10, 2025, which reinstated the officials. The APC’s Director of Media and Information, Mr. Kola Olabisi, refuted claims that the party had advised these officials against resuming, labeling such reports as fake news.
In a statement signed by the Osun State APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the party accused Governor Adeleke of “wanton disregard for the rule of law” by going ahead to “illegally” conducting the controversial council election.
The Governor’s Forum of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned the APC not to turn the most peaceful state in the country, Osun Stat, into the ‘wild wild west’ calling for rule of law and counselling against resorting to self help.
While speaking on behalf of the forum at Osogbo, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in the presence of the PDP Governors Forum Chairman, Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi State “We don’t want ‘wild wild west’ again. They should stay away from this zone.
