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JUST IN: ‘Suspend Local Government Elections In Osun’ – FG Tells Adeleke

Published

1 month ago

Feb 20, 2025.

FG urges Governor Adeleke to suspend local elections due to court ruling.
Court of Appeal restored sacked officials, making new elections unconstitutional.
AGF warns election could breach law and worsen Osun political crisis.

The Federal Government has called on Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, citing legal and constitutional concerns.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi, in a statement on Thursday, emphasized that the recent Court of Appeal ruling nullified the earlier removal of elected local government officials, effectively restoring them to office. He warned that holding new elections while their tenure remains valid until October 2025 would be unconstitutional.

The crisis in Osun escalated after clashes erupted over control of local government secretariats, leading to casualties. The state government blamed the violence on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor Gboyega Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Despite the unrest, Adeleke insisted the elections would proceed as planned, urging residents to participate.

Fagbemi, however, cautioned that proceeding with the polls would amount to a “gross violation” of the Constitution and urged the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to halt the election to maintain law and order.

Local Government Elections Osun

He further referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, stressing the need for a peaceful transition of elected officials. The Attorney-General urged Governor Adeleke to respect the legal process and prevent further instability in the state.