Osun LG election: Adeleke calls for peaceful polls

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged residents of the state to maintain peace and order during the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.

A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said that in a statewide broadcast, Adeleke emphasized the need for politicians to uphold the rule of law.

The Governor commended the public for complying with his directive to stay away from the local government secretariats, which helped prevent further confrontations.

He declared that peace had returned to the state after recent tensions caused by the illegal takeover of council secretariats by court-sacked APC chairmen and councilors.

In his words: “Osun State is back to normalcy as one of the most peaceful states in the federation. I regret to report to the good people of Osun State that the court-sacked APC chairmen and councilors went back yesterday, Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to forcefully break into various local government secretariats.

“I urged and directed everyone in Osun State to stay away from the local government secretariats to avoid any confrontation with them. The rule of law, through the judiciary, will eventually resolve the matter peacefully. Please, let us be patient.

“Those who claim to have a court judgment ordering their reinstatement should approach the court for enforcement instead of resorting to self-help, which is illegal. The Nigerian judiciary has its enforcement procedures, which everyone must follow. If you have a genuine court order, follow the court enforcement protocols.

“As a government, we have reviewed the said judgment and submitted it to the best legal minds for interpretation. There is no reinstatement order in the judgment. No matter the manner of misinterpretation, that judgment contains no consequential order or reinstatement directive.

“Most importantly, the judgment in the APP suit, which sacked the APC chairmen and councilors, remains subsisting. The appeal by the APC against this judgment did not succeed at the Court of Appeal, as the APC appeal was dismissed.

“If the court-sacked APC chairmen and councilors choose to continue on the path of illegal self-help, I assure our people that the best route to resolution is through the judiciary. I am committed to upholding the rule of law and the constitution.

“We will allow the court to determine the validity of their claim. We have confidence in the democratic credentials of President Tinubu, who we know will always insist on the rule of law.

“I implore our people to continue to sustain the peace that has returned to our dear state. We need peaceful coexistence to expand our good governance efforts over the past two years. Osun State remains truly peaceful.

“I urge all registered voters to vote in the local government election on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and to conduct themselves peacefully at all times.”