The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have locked horns over the recent local government elections in Osun State, exchanging accusations over the legitimacy of the polls.
The APC has called on the Federal Government to withhold allocations to Osun State’s local governments, claiming Governor Ademola Adeleke unlawfully constituted council leadership. Despite opposition, Governor Adeleke proceeded with the inauguration of newly elected council chairmen.
In a statement, APC spokesperson Felix Morka criticized Adeleke’s administration for disregarding the rule of law and violating a valid Court of Appeal ruling. According to Morka, the court had reinstated sacked local government officials until their term ends in October 2025, making the recent elections illegal. He accused Adeleke of wasting public funds and inciting political unrest, urging him to appeal to the Supreme Court instead of conducting what he called an “unconstitutional” election.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde, speaking at the swearing-in ceremony in Osogbo alongside Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, warned the APC against destabilizing Osun State. He urged respect for the judiciary, emphasizing that legal disputes should be resolved in court rather than through political confrontation. Makinde cautioned against actions that could plunge the state into crisis, stressing that democracy must be upheld peacefully.
Governor Adeleke, during the inauguration of the new council leaders, defended the election process, asserting that it followed due legal and procedural guidelines. He assured the newly elected officials that their mandate was legitimate and charged them with delivering good governance in their respective local governments.
Acknowledging ongoing legal challenges, Adeleke directed the elected officials to refrain from occupying the local government secretariats for now, relying on the judiciary to address the removal of previous officials who, he argued, were unlawfully holding office.
