Osun APC, PDP Clash Over LG Election Verdict

The political crisis in Osun State has intensified as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remain at odds over the Court of Appeal’s ruling on local government elections.

The APC has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of misrepresenting the court’s verdict, insisting that its council chairmen and councillors have been reinstated. The party also claims that the Attorney-General of the Federation affirmed their legal authority.

In a statement on Thursday, APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, urged Adeleke to stop obstructing local government administration. The party argued that the court’s judgment on February 10, 2025, legally restored its members to office.

The APC further alleged that Adeleke ignored legal advice and proceeded with the February 22, 2025, local government elections despite no vacancies existing at the time. It also claimed that Adeleke’s representatives met with the Attorney-General to discuss the ruling. The party accused the governor’s administration of illegally managing local government funds and demanded immediate recognition of its reinstated officials.

In response, the Osun PDP dismissed the APC’s claims, insisting that no court order reinstated the sacked officials. PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi accused the APC of misleading the public and undermining the judiciary. He questioned why the APC filed a fresh application at the Court of Appeal if its members had already been reinstated.

The PDP maintained that the court ruling nullifying the October 2022 local government elections remained valid. It also refuted claims that the Attorney-General supported the APC’s position, stating that legal documents justified the February 2025 elections conducted by OSSIEC.

Condemning the APC’s stance, the PDP described it as an attempt to “seize power through the backdoor” and warned that such actions threatened democracy. The party urged citizens to resist any unconstitutional takeover.

As both parties continue to assert their legal claims, tensions over the local government dispute remain high in Osun State.