Toba Owojaiye reporting
Osogbo, Osun
As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022, local government elections in Osun State have resumed duties in approximately 14 local government area (LGA) secretariats.
These officials, affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), were accompanied by numerous party supporters during their return to the secretariats. The LGAs where resumption has been confirmed include Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade, Obokun, Ejigbo, Iwo, and Ayedire.
Truth Live News gathered that this development follows a recent Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, which dismissed an originating summons filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP had challenged the validity of the October 15, 2022, local government elections, but the court dismissed the case on procedural grounds, stating that the notice of the election had not been published by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) before the suit was filed.
Despite the court’s decision, the Osun State Government maintains that the judgment did not reinstate the sacked council chairpersons. In a statement, the government emphasized that the Court of Appeal’s ruling was based on procedural issues and did not address the substantive validity of the elections. Consequently, the government asserts that the previously dismissed chairpersons remain out of office.
In response to the chairpersons’ resumption, security measures have been heightened around the affected secretariats. Members of the police tactical team, armed squads of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) have been deployed to maintain order and prevent potential clashes. As of the latest reports, no incidents of violence have been recorded.
The situation remains fluid, with tensions between the APC and the state government persisting. Stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring developments to assess the potential impact on governance and political stability in Osun State.