The Osun State government has formally written to Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urging his office—as well as the Auditor-General of the Federation and the Central Bank Governor—to recognize only the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the legitimate representatives in the council areas.
In a letter dated March 7, 2025, Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye explained that a prior local government election held on October 15, 2022, was invalidated by a Federal High Court judgment in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which led to the removal of the then-elected officials. This decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 15, 2025. Consequently, following the fresh election conducted on February 22, 2025, the state government insists that only the newly elected PDP officials be recognized and engaged by financial institutions and government agencies.
Reacting to the move, the Osun State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) strongly criticized the letter, accusing the state government of introducing “illegally selected” chairmen and councillors, and asserting that no valid election had taken place to justify the replacement of the previously reinstated officials.
As the dispute over the rightful local government representatives intensifies, the state government and opposition continue to clash over interpretations of the court rulings and the electoral process in Osun State.
