The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025.
The decision was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and signed by the APC Secretary, Alao Olabisi Kamoru.
The APC explained that its withdrawal was prompted by a recent ruling from the Appeal Court in Akure, which it argued made the planned elections unnecessary and unlawful.
The court’s judgment, referenced as Appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022, reinstated previously elected local government officials, thereby nullifying the vacancy of local council seats.
In the letter, the APC pointed to the Appeal Court’s ruling as a direct consequence of the Federal High Court’s judgment in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/94/2022, which was nullified on February 10, 2025.
The APC emphasised that as a result, the local council positions were no longer vacant and, therefore, the elections were no longer needed.
Despite having actively campaigned across Osun State’s 30 local government areas, the APC confirmed its withdrawal, deeming the elections “unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful.”
Sacked APC LG Chairmen, councilors reclaim seats
Meanwhile, the APC Chairmen and councilors officially moved into local government secretariats in Osun state Wednesday morning.
Chairman Ifedayo local government, Hon. Abiodun Idowu, who also doubled as the ALGON chairman in the state, ordered immediate freezing of various council accounts.
He also told Governor Ademola Adeleke and others in charge of the council resources to steer clear of public funds, saying “any form of illegal transaction will have consequences.”
Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, Idowu warned the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to shelve the planned local government election scheduled for Saturday, noting that there’s no vacancy in any of the 30 councils for them to fix.
He applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his exemplary leadership and strict adherence to the rule of law, just as he hailed the high sense of professionalism and commitment exhibited by the security agencies in the state.
Idowu, who reassured of their readiness for good governance at the grassroots, said, “having returned to office, we want to reaffirm our commitment to serving our people more and our social contract to create job and wealth for the teeming youth of the state will be implemented without compromise.
“All our Chairmen will work assiduously to create value chains in the agricultural sector so that food security will be ensured in our state. We will devote attention to mechanized farming so farmers across the state will have a new lease of life. We are aware of the shortage of teachers in our schools and health professionals in all our health centres and facilities. We declare to fill this shortage in no distant time.
“We have met as an association and concluded that the 1500 teachers and over 2000 health workers employed by the APC Government of HE Adegboyega Oyetola but which were sacked on assumption of Office of Governor Ademola Adeleke will be reabsorbed into the system.
“Since their salaries and emoluments are statutorily charged from the Local Government Allocation, we hold that bringing them back on board to render essential services to the people of the state will not halt or hinder the progress of governance in the state.
“We know government exists because of the people and it is our responsibility as Leaders of governments at the local government to prioritize the welfare and well-being of the citizens. The modalities for the reabsorption of the 1,500 teachers and over 2,000 health workers will be communicated to the concerned employees in the due course,” Idowu said.
It is gathered that the APC chairmen had gained access to Atakumosa West, Ilesa West, Obokun, Ilesa East, Orolu, Ejigbo and Ifelodun local governments
PDP alleges assassination plot
In a related development, the Osun state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday said it had uncovered alleged plans by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the APC to assassinate the governor and take over the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, the PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, stated that the party was also aware of purported plan by the IGP to prevent the Saturday local government election from holding.
“Mr Egbetokun’s deliberate deployment of Special Forces under him to escort some miscreants into the local government councils in the state was nothing but a blatant coup and obviously one out of the many mapped out plans to assassinate the Governor of our dear State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, whose instruction to restore peace and order as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated by Mr Egbetokun.
“We understand that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been interfacing with Egbetokun, with the sole aim of ensuring peace after the fatal fracas on Monday, occasioned by forceful attempts by the sacked chairmen and councillors purportedly elected on the platform of opposition Apc before the advent of PDP administration in the state.
“The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from being an enabler of orchestrated attempts on the life of our Governor. This plans we want to emphasize, have being on the cards of the APC in Osun State, since the good people of Osun State voted them out of office in 2022.
“The desperation to get rid of Mr Governor and take over the State through whatever means possible has been rife and clear enough since Apc was shut out of government in Osun.
“We are not unaware that the desperation of Mr Egbetokun and his APC cohorts is ultimately to prevent the local government election from holding in Osun State on Saturday, 22nd of February 2025.
“We are aware that Mr Egbetokun is ready to bend all the rules, aid and abet killings of Osun people, especially members of the ruling PDP as we witnessed on Monday, but the IGP should be told in clear terms that he will fail.”
Speaker Egbedun seeks IGP, Tinubu’s intervention
Also, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has urged IGP Egbetokun and President Tinubu to intervene in the imbroglio in the state.
Addressing journalists, Wednesday, Egbedun expressed displeasure over the role of the police in the crisis, alleging that some elements within the force had compromised.
He alleged that the opposition APC forcefully broke into local government secretariats across the state, describing the action as direct attack on democratic institutions and a clear violation of the rule of law and threat to public peace and order.
“Even more disturbing is the fact that security agencies, who are meant to uphold the law, were present while these illegal acts were being carried out. This is unjust, unlawful, and unacceptable. Law enforcement agencies must never be seen aiding and abetting criminal activities.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that this state will not succumb to political banditry and unconstitutional actions. Every individual found guilty of orchestrating or participating in this lawless takeover will be brought to book and held accountable under the full weight of the law,” Egbedun said.
He said the assembly condemned any form of lawlessness, violence, or forceful occupation of government institutions, saying that the Federal High Court’s judgment remains binding and must be respected by all parties until set aside by a competent court.
“We had anticipated that external pressures might attempt to manipulate security agencies in Osun State, but we never expected that such compromises would emerge this early. We thought these forces would at least wait until the next gubernatorial election before making their moves, but instead, they have chosen to destabilize our state prematurely.
“The Osun State House of Assembly is not unaware of the close relationship between Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the former Governor of Osun State and the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and the Inspector General of Police. However, while personal relationships may exist, the security of Osun State must never be sacrificed on the altar of friendship at the expense of the rule of law.
“No individual, no matter how highly placed, should manipulate security agencies to serve political interests at the expense of peace and stability. The police must not allow themselves to become a tool for political subjugation or a shield for those violating the law,” Egbedun said.
On the local government election slated for Saturday, Egbedun urged the electorates to troop out en-masse and freely exercise their democratic right to vote for their preferred candidates, vowing that “no amount of intimidation, violence, or political desperation will stop the democratic process.”
Reps to investigate
Still on the political crisis, the House of Representatives is wading into the security situation in Osun state and resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to carry out an investigation.
The resolution followed a motion from Bamidele Salam, a lawmaker from the state, calling for urgent intervention to avoid further crisis in the state.
The lawmakers also urged the security agencies to ensure that peace is restored in the state.
The resolution was consequent upon the killing of at least six people Monday in a crisis triggered by an inconsequential ruling of the Court of Appeal which allegedly reinstated the APC-elected local government chairmen and councillors in the state.
