Osun: APC, PDP clash over LG election verdict

The political crisis in Osun State has deepened as the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continue to dispute the Court of Appeal ruling on local government elections.

The APC has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of misleading the public about the verdict, urging him to acknowledge the reinstatement of its council chairmen and councillors.

The party claims that the Attorney-General of the Federation confirmed the legal authority of the reinstated chairmen over the councils.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, on Thursday, the APC urged Adeleke to stop obstructing local government administration.

The party insisted that the Court of Appeal's ruling of 10 February 2025 legally reinstated its members.

The APC alleged that “Governor Adeleke had disregarded legal advice and proceeded with the 22 February 2025 local government elections despite no vacancies existing at the time.”

It also claimed that the governor’s emissaries met with the Attorney-General of the Federation to discuss the ruling.

The party maintained that Adeleke’s government was unlawfully managing local government allocations and called for the immediate recognition of the reinstated officials. It warned that any further obstruction would be a violation of the rule of law.

However, the Osun PDP has refuted the APC’s claims, stating that no court order reinstated the sacked officials. The PDP accused the APC of attempting to mislead the public and undermine the judicial process.

In a statement signed by Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, the party questioned why the APC filed a fresh application at the Court of Appeal if its members had already been reinstated.

The PDP insisted that the judgement nullifying the October 2022 elections remained valid.

The PDP also criticised the APC for allegedly misrepresenting the position of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

It argued that “the legal documents presented to him clearly justified the February 2025 local government elections conducted by OSSIEC”.

Furthermore, the PDP condemned what it described as an attempt by the APC to “forcefully take power through the backdoor”.

It warned that such actions posed a threat to democracy and urged citizens to resist any unconstitutional takeover.

As tensions escalate, both parties have continued to assert their legal standing in the dispute.

While the APC demands recognition of its chairmen and councillors, the PDP insists that their election was invalidated by the courts.