The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner of all the chairmanship and councillorship seats in all the 30 local government areas (LGAs) in Osun State.
The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, announced this at a press conference on Saturday.
The Osun State government had insisted that its local government elections on Saturday recorded a 60% voters turnout.
Newsmen had earlier reported that the elections had taken place amid controversies, claims, and counterclaims.
Earlier, the Osun State High Court in Ilesa ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with conducting elections for vacant positions in the state’s local government areas.
The order, issued on Friday, February 21, 2025, followed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of the parties contesting the election.
However, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, had previously declared that the Osun State Government should not proceed with the local government elections.
Fagbemi cited the February 10, 2025, ruling of the Court of Appeal (Akure Division) in Appeal No. CA/AK/272/2022, which overturned an earlier Federal High Court decision that had removed elected local government officials. He asserted that the appellate court’s decision effectively reinstated these officials, who are legally entitled to remain in office until October 2025.
“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment is that the elected officials removed by the Federal High Court have been reinstated and are legally occupying their offices,” Fagbemi stated.
The AGF criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s insistence on proceeding with fresh elections, warning that such a move would be unconstitutional.
Fagbemi further referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming local government autonomy, reinforcing the position that the Osun State Government must respect the tenure of the reinstated officials.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission accused the police of sealing off its office on election day.
The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Hashim Abioye, had claimed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force arrested staff members of the commission who were on election duty across the state.
