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Osun State is tense as Governor Ademola Adeleke insisted on holding the contentious Local Government poll in spite of opposition parties’ strong opposition and security concerns.

Stakeholders have expressed concerns about the state’s security condition and predicted upheaval, according to ZINGTIE, especially opposition parties and security services.

The worries came after clashes between members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday that killed at least six party members.

When the former chairman and council members of the local government tried to retake their positions following a court ruling, the situation became more dire.

The APC members had filed a motion to enforce the February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal, Akure Division ruling, which overturned their dismissal due to the November 25, 2022, Osogbo Federal High Court ruling.

Recall that on November 25, 2022, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Osogbo Federal High Court issued a ruling dismissing the chairmen and council members chosen in the election held by the former governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola.

However, on February 10 of this year, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling, causing anarchy throughout the state’s Local Government Areas.

The reinstated Chairmen demanded that the scheduled election be postponed until their term ended in October 2025, despite opposition from the PDP members.

Governor Adeleke is cautioned by the AGF not to disregard the Appeal Court’s decision.

Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, entered the controversy on Thursday and encouraged Governor Adeleke to abide by the Appeal Court’s ruling, which reinstated the chairmen’s and council members’ terms.

The AGF cautioned that holding the election would be a grave breach of the Nigerian constitution and accused Governor Adeleke of trying to subvert the courts.

He asserts that these elections will “not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgment of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, but it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold”.

A court ordered that the polls be held on Saturday.

An Osun State High Court in Ilesa on Friday directed the State Independent Electoral Commission, or OSSIEC, to hold elections for the LG chairmen and council members in each of the 30 council areas on Saturday (today), in defiance of the AGF’s legal advice.

As previously established in a Federal High Court ruling, there are vacancies in the state’s 30 local government districts, according to Justice A. Aderigbigbe, who delivered the ruling.

The Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, and other security services were also ordered and required by the court to provide sufficient security both during and after the election.

The Labour Party withdraws, saying that OSSIEC is not prepared to hold an election.

Prince Adebayo Bello, the State Chairman of the Labour Party in Osun State, stated that the state electoral body is not prepared for the election in an interview with the ZINGTIE on Friday evening.

According to the LP Chairman, the OSSIEC flatly refused to provide party agents with tags, claiming that doing so would expose the agents to danger.

He said, “We are ready to participate in a very conducive atmosphere whereby there will be adequate security provided and assured.

“However, OSSIEC did not give us party agents’ tags and we think they are not prepared for the election, because we can’t put the lives of our party agents in danger for lack of proper means of identification for collation of results.

“Our party candidates today advised OSSIEC via a press briefing to postpone the election for them to fully prepare”.

Residents have pledged to remain home due to the tension, according to a security source.

A police source who talked to ZINGTIE anonymously on Friday night verified tensions throughout the state, despite the fact that Opalola Yemisi, the Osun State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, was unable to answer her calls when called.

He said, “Due to what happened on Monday when people were killed, most residents, including some security operatives, are scared of what may play out tomorrow.

“Like they say, when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. Most times when the thugs clash, the innocent citizens are the ones who suffer the consequences.

“Of course, the police are not left out as we are often the first target. They are planning to use the Amotekun but we all know that thugs will wear the uniform tomorrow. I don’t blame residents that have vowed to stay indoors until the election is over”.

Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, in a statement signed by the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi urged for the urgent suspension of the polls due to security threats.

According to the police, if the governor holds the poll as scheduled, there would be serious security risks and a high probability of violence, according to reliable intelligence they obtained.

According to him, “various groups, including political elements and other interest parties, are mobilizing to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic order.

“Given this imminent threat to security, the NPF strongly advises the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability.”

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