Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has cast his vote in the controversial local government election currently taking place across the state.
The buildup to the Saturday election was marked by rising tension between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Trouble began after a recent Court of Appeal judgment overturned the sack of local government chairmen and councillors, who were originally removed by a Federal High Court ruling in November 2022.
The crisis can be dated back to the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, under whom the sacked officials were elected. Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo had declared their election invalid in 2022. However, the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal reversed that decision on February 10, 2025, reinstating the officials. Following the court ruling, APC members attempted to reclaim their offices, leading to violent clashes with PDP supporters. These clashes resulted in the deaths of at least six party members earlier in the week.
Despite the Court of Appeal judgment, Governor Adeleke pushed forward with the election, drawing criticism from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi. In a statement released on Thursday, the AGF warned Governor Adeleke against conducting the election, labelling it a violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
According to Fagbemi, the term of the reinstated chairmen and councillors remains valid until October 2025, making any election held before then “invalid and unconstitutional.” “Any election conducted under the current circumstances would not only be null and void but would also undermine the authority of the judiciary and the Constitution of Nigeria,” the AGF stated.
Despite the AGF’s warning, an Osun State High Court in Ilesa ruled on Friday that the election should proceed as scheduled. Justice A. Aderigbigbe, who presided over the case, held that the 30 local government areas in the state currently have vacant leadership positions, as previously declared by the Federal High Court. The court directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct the election and ordered security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), to provide adequate security throughout the process.
The police, however, backed out of the polls on Friday, citing security measures and legal implications.
Governor Adeleke, after casting his vote in his hometown of Ede, expressed confidence in the process and urged residents to maintain peace during the exercise.
Below are the photos and clip of the process.
