The much-awaited February 22nd, 2025 local government election in Osun State holds today.
Investigations by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the election, which has been enmeshed in controversies, is holding despite warnings from security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and other stakeholders.
Prior to today’s election, the state witnessed a huge chunk of political violence leading to the loss of six lives, including that of a former Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Prince Remi Abass, on Monday.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that issues stemming from the February 10 Court of Appeal Judgement that reportedly nullifed an earlier decision of the Federal High Court Osogbo on the October 15, 2022 council polls in the state have caused a stir between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the latter says elected Chairmen on its platform are the constitutionally recognised leadership for council areas, the former insists that there are vacancies to be filled at the third tier of government, necessitating the need for today’s election.
The Osun State Independent Electoral COmmission (OSSIEC) on Friday, however, pledged to midwife a free and fair process, urging all stakeholders to play by the rules.
Police, AGF Seek Cancellation Of Poll
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Friday night said credible intelligent gathered from various groups shows that various groups including political elements and other interest parties are mobilising to insitgate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.
“The Nigeria Police Force has received credible intelligence indicating a high likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned Local Government elections proceed in Osun State.
“These reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering reveal that various groups, including political elements and other interest parties, are mobilizing to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic order.
“Given this imminent threat to security, the NPF strongly advises the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability.”
Also, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, had earlier on Thursday, maintained a similar stance on the matter.
In an advisory to the Governor, Fagbemi stressed the need to allow the ‘reinstated’ officials serve out their terms which expires in October 2025, stressing that the appellate court had restored their mandate.
APC, APM boycotts LG Election
OSUN DEFENDER had on Thursday reported the withdrawal of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State from today’s election. Its Secretary, Olabisi Kamoru in a letter dated 17th February 2025 notified the Commission of its decision to boycott the LG Election, stating its belief that the February 10 Court of Appeal Judgment had reinstated its Chairmen and Councillors.
Also, the Allied People’s Movement, through its State Chairman, Adewole Adebayo, also confirmed that it had withdrawn from the election.
According to Adebayo, the APM withdrew because it initially had no faith in Hashim Abioye as the Chairman of the Commission, given he/his history with the ruling PDP. He further stated that the February 10 Judgment gave the APM more reasons to pull out of the Saturday polls.
OSSIEC Headquarters Deserted, Observer Groups, Journalists Await Media Accreditation
As of 6pm on Friday, 21st February 2025, staff of the Electoral Commission remained absent from the commission’s Office, with heavy presence of security operatives.
The situation, which has lingered for days, it was gathered, ignited fears that the commission might have been sealed off by security agents.
Reports around Friday evening espoused the presence ofabout 16 heavily armed policemen at the entrance of the building and its surroundings.
OSUN DEFENDER also gathered that some observer groups and media organisations were yet to receive accreditation tags for the election as at the time of filing this report.
Osun Govt Rejects Police Advise As Adeleke Insists Polls Will Go Ahead
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenement, Kolapo Alimi said the government has rejected the advise for the cancellation of the polls.
Alimi said the decision of government was hinged on the rule of law and aversion to police partisanship, which he alleged the Nigeria Police for.
His words, “Osun state government has acknowledged the security advice from the Nigerian Police Force but regret to announce that the advice is rejected on the ground of rule of law and aversion to police partisanship.
“The state government under His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke has reviewed the advice and has come to the conclusion that the proposal from the force headquarters was biased, partisan and in contravention of democratic tenets. The pretence of the service to be serving public good while actually promoting illegality of the APC reinforces our rejection of a Greek gift.
“From the beginning of this face off, the police has breached best practices by its open support for the All Progressive Congress, a party that is pushing for illegality through a non- existing court order. The whole world knows how the police actively aided the APC to enforce a reinstatement order that was never issued by any court of law.
In an earlier statement, Adeleke insisted that the controversial local government election will hold.
A statement by Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson said the governor made the assertion on Friday morning while receiving a delegation of civil society coalition who are in the state to monitor the local government elections.
According to the Governor, Osun voters are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday even as he expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the electoral body.
Court Orders OSSIEC To Proceed With Planned Election
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa, on Friday afternoon ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC), to proceed with today’s local government election.
The court also declared that positions of local government chairmen and councillors in all the 30 local government areas and the area office in Osun State are currently vacant, hence the need for Saturday’s election.
A statement by Oladele Bamiji, Media Director of the PDP said the order was given by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, sequel to a suit brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the political parties participating in the election.
As at 11:30 pm on Friday, OSUN DEFENDER observed the back and forth between members of the APC and PDP, with residents of the state waiting for daybreak when the accreditation and voting process will kick off.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
