Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has stated that the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Rivers State local government election further confirms the illegality of the local government election conducted by the All Progressives Congress in Osun State.
According to Adeleke, the ruling affirms that the election was conducted in violation of the Electoral Act, rendering it null and void.
In his statement, Governor Adeleke emphasized that the judgment reinforced the fact that there was no legal basis for the APC-backed local government chairmen to continue in office. He made these comments during an address to the Council of Traditional Rulers at the Finance Building in Abere, Osogbo. In his speech, the governor reiterated his commitment to keeping the royal fathers informed about governance issues in the state.
Adeleke also clarified that in relation to the Akure Appeal Court ruling, the People’s Democratic Party had no grounds to appeal to the Supreme Court, as there was no consequential order, and the court had dismissed the request for reinstatement as an “academic exercise.” He pointed out that a Federal High Court had removed the APC-backed local government chairmen from office in October 2022, while his predecessor was still in power. Adeleke assumed office in November 2022, marking a critical point in understanding the subsequent developments.
“The Supreme Court ruling on the Rivers local government election has clearly confirmed that the Osun Yes/No election was conducted in violation of the electoral act and therefore remains null and void,” Governor Adeleke stated. “The latest judgment of the apex court affirms that there is no legal ground for the Yes/No chairmen to continue to illegally occupy the secretariats.”
Addressing the traditional rulers, Adeleke added, “Our royal fathers, you have all the facts before you. There is no reinstatement order as you can see. The Supreme Court judgment, in the case of Rivers State, validated the judgment of the Federal High Court, which sacked those elected in Osun state in violation of the electoral act.”
In response to Adeleke’s statements, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, assured the governor that the royal council would not support any form of violence that could disturb the peace of Osun State.
“We are also not happy with the LG crisis in the state, we abhor violence and Osun is a peaceful state, a status that must be maintained irrespective of the issues in contention,” Ogunwusi said.
