Gov Adeleke swears in newly elected Osun LG Chairmen

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has officially sworn in newly elected local government chairmen and councillors across the state.

The inauguration, which is currently underway, was confirmed by Adeleke’s Special Adviser on SDG and Multilateral Relations, Banks Omishore.

The event has drawn significant political attention, with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, present to show their support for Adeleke.

Omishore shared updates on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Swearing-in of the Local Government Chairmen and their councillors is now ongoing. Governor Seyi Makinde and Governor Bala Mohammed are here on a solidarity visit to Governor Adeleke.”

In another post, he quoted Makinde as urging the newly sworn-in officials to honour their commitments, adding that opposition members, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC), should challenge the election results in court rather than resorting to self-help. “The era of using federal might to undermine democracy is over,” Makinde reportedly said.

Controversy Surrounding the Elections

The local government elections, held on February 22, 2025, have been marred by controversy. The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) declared the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of all chairmanship and councillorship positions. OSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, described the process as peaceful and successful, despite prior concerns.

However, the African Action Congress (AAC) has rejected the results, calling for an immediate cancellation of the elections. The party alleged widespread irregularities, including the absence of election materials at many polling units and claims that OSIEC officials arrived with pre-filled ballots.

AAC Publicity Secretary, Akinlade Semiu, released a statement condemning the process: “We demand the immediate cancellation of this sham election due to the blatant disregard for democratic principles displayed by the PDP and OSIEC.” The party also alleged that sensitive materials were moved to Governor Adeleke’s residence, where voting and result compilation allegedly took place.

The AAC has vowed to challenge the election outcome through all legal means, accusing the PDP and OSIEC of manipulating the process.

Legal Disputes and Forceful Takeover Attempts

The controversy over local government leadership in Osun State dates back to October 2022, when the then-Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, oversaw elections that saw APC-affiliated officials take office. However, these elections were later nullified by a Federal High Court in Osogbo, leading to the removal of the elected officials and the appointment of caretaker committees by Governor Adeleke.

The situation took a new turn on February 10, 2025, when the Court of Appeal in Akure overturned the earlier ruling, effectively reinstating the previously sacked APC officials. This led to confusion, with the APC interpreting the judgment as a mandate for their officials to resume office, while the PDP-led government disputed this interpretation.

Following the court’s decision, APC supporters attempted to take control of various local government secretariats, leading to violent clashes that resulted in at least six deaths. The Osun State House of Assembly condemned the actions, describing them as a “forceful invasion” by the sacked officials.

In response to the crisis, the Osun State High Court in Ilesa ordered OSIEC to conduct new elections, a move the PDP welcomed. However, Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, advised against the polls, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment reinstating the APC officials. Despite this, the state government proceeded with the elections, further escalating tensions in the state.