FG Urges Governor Adeleke to Cancel Osun Local Government Elections Over Legal Concerns

The Federal Government has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday.

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi made the call while addressing the ongoing crisis in the state.

In a statement issued late Thursday, Fagbemi emphasized that the law was clear on the issue fueling tensions between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Recent clashes over control of Local Government secretariats led to multiple casualties, including the death of a former council chairman, while several others sustained injuries. The Osun State government blamed the violence on the APC and former governor Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

Despite the unrest, Adeleke insisted the election would proceed as planned, urging residents to participate. However, Fagbemi pointed out that the court had nullified the governor’s earlier order, which removed elected Local Government chairmen from office.

He explained that the Court of Appeal’s recent ruling effectively restored the ousted officials, whose tenure remains valid until October 2025. According to Fagbemi, any election held before then would be unconstitutional.

The AGF advised Governor Adeleke to direct the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to cancel the planned election, emphasizing the need for legal compliance and the maintenance of peace in the state.