- Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has been warned against conducting the forthcoming local government election
- Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney general of the federation, stated that the election would be illegal because the Court of Appeal has reinstated the sacked council chairmen
- Fagbemi stated that the law Governor Adeleke was relying on had been nullified by the court and council chairmen had been reinstated
FCT, Abuja - The Federal Government has told Osun state governor Ademola Adeleke to suspend the Saturday, February 22 local government election in the state.
Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AFG), made the call while reacting to the ongoing political crisis in the state.
AGF commented on Osun political crisis
According to Daily Trust, Fagbemi in a statement on Thursday, February 20, stated that the position of the law was cleared on the issue leading to the crisis between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Read also:Unraveling The Mystery How Old Is Paul Walker A Tribute To A Timeless Star
Recall that on Monday, February 17, some people, including one of the reinstated council chairmen, were killed, while many others sustained a series of injuries during a clash between the PDP and APC members over the control of the local government secretariats.
The Osun state government had blamed the immediate past governor Gboyega Oyetola, who is the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as well as the APC.
Adeleke vowed to conduct council election
Governor Adeleke on the other hand had vowed that the election would be held as scheduled, urging the people of the state to come out and vote for their chairmen and councillors.
But in a statement on Thursday, the AGF stated that the court has nullified the order which empowered the governor to sack the local government chairmen elected under the administration.
Fagbemi noted that the judgment of the Court of Appeal judgment on February 10, 2025, nullified the verdict of the Federal High Court that was given in November 2022.
Why AGF commented on Osun LG crisis
The AGF stressed that his comment was to clear the doubt, uncertainties and fears of the disinformation and misrepresentations concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
Read also:New Law Promises Greater Safety For Pregnant Workers And Protection Of Their Workplace Rights
The AGF's statement reads in part:
“Accordingly, the judgement of the Court of Appeal had by implication effectively restored the elected Local Government officials removed by the Federal High Court, back to their offices."
Fagbemi explained that based on the facts available in his office, the crisis in Osun happened as a result of the reinstated local government chairmen trying to resume office and they were attacked by some miscreants.
Osun electoral commission denied military invasion
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Osun State Electoral Commission has dismissed the rumour that its office was besieged by Nigerian military personnel.
Sadiat Isiaka, the spokesperson for OSSIEC, in a statement on Tuesday, described the report as fake news and urged the public to dismiss it.
According to OSSIEC, the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, will still be held and urged the public to come out in masses and participate.
