The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, has warned the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, against holding a local government election in the state.
The remarks followed a recent leadership crisis in the state, sparked by the local government (LG) elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
In a statement released on Thursday, AGF held that a LG election can not hold when the tenure of the former leaders of the third tier of government is yet to elapse.
According to Fagbemi, whereas, the Judgement of the Court of Appeal, delivered on February 10, 2025 restores the local government leaders removed during the immediate past administration in the state, they remain in the office until the expiration of there tenure.
The statement read in parts, “My attention has been drawn to the PUBLIC OUTCRY of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure division delivered on 10th day of February, 2025 in Appeal No CA/AK/272/2022 which nullified and set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, delivered on 25th day of November, 2022.
“It has become necessary to issue this public notice to remove doubts, fears and uncertainties created by misrepresentations and disinformation concerning the legal effect of the judgement of the Court of Appeal.
“Putting matters in proper context, the event that led to the two judgements was that during the currency of the term of the former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, election was held into all the local governments of Osun State and winners were sworn in.
“However, a few days before the swearing in of Governor Adeleke, the Federal High Court Osogbo delivered the judgement referred to above in which it nullified the election of the Local Government elected officials and removed them from office.
“As soon as Governor Adeleke assumed office a few days after the judgement, he issued executive order for the physical removal of the elected officials and replaced them with caretaker appointees.
“Meanwhile, the APC that was a party in the Federal High Court case referred to above appealed against the judgement.
