In an escalating political face-off, representatives of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola clashed on Monday over the legality of the controversial local government elections and court rulings in the state.
The two camps locked horns during a heated exchange on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where they debated the legitimacy of the local government elections held in Osun in October 2022. The conflict hinges on the conduct of the election, court rulings, and the appointment of local government officials.
The Ongoing Clash Over Legality
Kolapo Alimi, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, didn’t mince words when he blamed Oyetola for the “deliberate move” to install local government officials before he left office in 2022. Alimi claimed that Oyetola, after his defeat in the July 2022 gubernatorial election, hastily arranged for a local government election, despite being “on his way out.”
According to Alimi, the election, which took place on October 15, 2022, violated the Electoral Act, which mandates a 360-day notice for such elections. He further asserted that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) proceeded with a mere 60-day notice despite objections from political parties, calling it a clear disregard for electoral law.
“All political parties warned OSIEC that what they were about to do was illegal, but it insisted and went ahead with the election,” Alimi said, referencing the legal action taken by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which challenged the election results in court.
However, the case was dismissed on procedural grounds due to a defective originating summons. Despite the technical dismissal, Alimi continued to maintain that the conduct of the election by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration under Oyetola remained invalid.
The PDP’s Position on the Local Government Elections
Adebayo Adeleke, the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Oyetola, countered by defending the legitimacy of the elections. He claimed that the PDP’s challenge of the polls had no merit and was rooted in the party’s decision not to participate in the election, which Adeleke argued didn’t invalidate the results.
“The election was conducted and council chairmen and councillors were duly sworn in on November 25, 2022,” Adeleke stated. “The PDP’s case was struck out in court, and a judgment was later delivered that effectively annulled the APC’s council officials.”
He elaborated further on the Court of Appeal’s ruling in February 2025, which he said reaffirmed the legality of the original LG elections, dismissing the PDP’s arguments. “We asked the court to allow our appeal, and the Court of Appeal granted it,” he continued. “That judgment remains valid, and nothing has changed it.”
While Alimi disagreed, he held that the most recent Court of Appeal ruling delivered in June 2025 did not invalidate the February judgment, as some have claimed. According to Alimi, the June 2025 ruling was purely procedural and did not alter the substantive matter that was decided earlier.
The Impact of the Court Rulings
Alimi maintained that the June 13 ruling by the Court of Appeal confirmed the PDP’s stance by affirming the nullification of the APC-led local government elections. He reiterated that the judgment provided clarity on the matter and urged the Attorney General of the Federation to take action based on the ruling to resolve the ongoing impasse in Osun.
“There is no newer judgment that overrides the February 10 ruling,” Alimi insisted. “The June 13 judgment merely declined to relist the PDP’s appeal—it did not nullify the earlier ruling that reinstated our chairmen and councillors.”
Alimi urged Osun residents to remain calm, as the APC officials continue to serve in office despite the ongoing legal disputes. He emphasized that resolving the local government crisis in the state would require adherence to the most recent court rulings.
The Road Ahead for Osun’s Local Government Crisis
In the heated political atmosphere surrounding the local government issue in Osun, it appears that only respect for the courts’ rulings can bring clarity to the situation. Both sides are preparing for what could be another protracted legal and political battle. As the matter moves forward, it is expected that the ruling parties and opposition alike will continue to scrutinize every legal judgment that may further affect the control of the state’s local governments.