Oyetola seeks enforcement of court ruling, as APC withdraws from Osun LG election

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on security agencies to enforce the Appeal Court judgment allowing sacked chairmen and councillors in Osun State to return to office.

Meanwhile, the former Osun State Governor announced that the APC would not participate in the local government election scheduled for February 22, opting instead to regain office through legal means.

Oyetola, who was welcomed by party loyalists at the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office in Osogbo, hailed the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

According to him: “It was a wonderful judgment coming at this time, and I must commend the judiciary for being the hope of the common man. We have been on this litigation since 2022, but today we thank God that the mandate given to our chairmen and councillors has been restored.

“We are happy and grateful to Almighty God, and we thank the judiciary for a wonderful job. I believe the enforcement of the judgment will be done constitutionally.

“We are law-abiding citizens, and as you all know, our party, the APC, believes in the rule of law. We appeal to the security agencies to ensure that the chairmen and councillors are given the opportunity to resume office.”

Oyetola also urged APC members to prepare for the 2026 governorship election, expressing optimism that the party would return to power.

“I want to assure everyone, particularly members of our party, that by God’s grace there will be a free and fair governorship election, and we are confident we will win,” he added.

Counsel to the Osun APC, Barrister Muideen Adeoye, also emphasized that the Appeal Court’s judgment must be enforced.

Adeoye warned the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to respect the Appeal Court’s judgment, which reinstated the unjustly sacked council officials, and abandon the proposed illegal council election.

The legal practitioner, who praised the judiciary for its sound judgment, urged OSIEC to refrain from any action that could undermine the judiciary’s integrity and to comply with the court order.

He insisted there is no vacancy in the councils across the state for OSIEC to fill, stressing the need for the Commission to obey the rule of law and the judgment that restored the elected chairmen and councillors.

“The election of chairmen and councillors in 2022 remains valid. It is unfortunate that the elected officials were removed barely one or two months after assuming office, but we thank God the court has restored them.

“I know those in government, including OSIEC, have been giving different interpretations to justify their stance, but talk is cheap while facts are sacred.

“One doesn’t need to labor further on this. Page 15 of the judgment specifically mentions the amended notice of appeal upon which the appeal was determined. That appeal contained all the reliefs sought, and it was allowed,” Adeoye explained.

Regarding the effect of the judgment on the proposed local government election, Adeoye stated: “In the eye of the law, the seats of the chairmen and councillors are not vacant unless the appellate court’s decision is set aside.”