On Monday, February 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Akure ruled to reinstate the local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State, who had been dismissed by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The court’s judgment, delivered on Tuesday, ordered that the council officials, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), immediately resume their positions. This ruling overturned the earlier decision that had seen these officials removed from office.
In response, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) filed an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision and requested a stay of execution until the appeal is heard.
The controversy began in November 2022, when Governor Adeleke dismissed the local government officials after a High Court ruling had previously invalidated their election. The High Court had declared the election, which was organized by OSSIEC, to be null and void. This was after the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties challenged the election, arguing that only APC candidates were allowed to run for the vacant positions, and voters were only given a “YES or NO” option.
