Political Showdown in Osun
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of abusing court processes in the ongoing controversy surrounding local government administration. The APC claims that Adeleke is disregarding a Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated elected APC local government chairmen and councillors on February 10, 2025.
The party alleges that Adeleke is behind lawsuits filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to challenge the reinstatement of APC officials. This has sparked a heated political and legal battle in the state.
The Court of Appeal Judgment
The controversy stems from a Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated local government chairmen and councillors elected during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in 2022. The judgment invalidated the PDP officials elected in the February 22, 2025, local government elections, declaring them illegal.
However, the PDP and NULGE have since filed lawsuits in Osun State High Courts, seeking to overturn the reinstatement of the APC officials. The APC has condemned these actions as an abuse of the judicial process.
APC’s Allegations: A Coordinated Effort
In a statement issued by the APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party accused Governor Adeleke of orchestrating the lawsuits to undermine the Court of Appeal’s decision.
“If Governor Adeleke and his cohorts think that they can thwart the judgment of a superior court by a lower court through the back door, they will remain perpetual jokers of the century,” the statement read.
The APC also criticized NULGE for involving itself in what it described as a partisan political matter, accusing the union of siding with the PDP.
NULGE’s Lawsuit: A Question of Law and Order
NULGE’s lawsuit, filed at the Osun State High Court in Ilesa, seeks to address the alleged forceful invasion and illegal occupation of local government secretariats by the reinstated APC officials. The union claims its actions are aimed at maintaining law and order and protecting its members from potential harm.
However, the APC has dismissed the lawsuit as a ploy by the Adeleke administration to delay the smooth running of local government administration by the reinstated APC officials.
Governor Adeleke’s Response
While Governor Adeleke has not directly addressed the APC’s allegations, his administration has maintained that the lawsuits are necessary to resolve the ongoing logjam in local government administration. The PDP has also defended its actions, arguing that the Court of Appeal’s judgment should be challenged through legal means.
Conclusion: A Test for Osun’s Judiciary
The ongoing legal battle highlights the deep political divisions in Osun State and raises questions about the independence of the judiciary. As the case unfolds, it will test the integrity of the state’s legal system and its ability to uphold the rule of law.
For now, the APC remains defiant, insisting that its reinstated local government officials are here to stay. The party has called on Governor Adeleke to respect the Court of Appeal’s judgment and work with the APC officials for the good of the state.