Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Sunday swore in the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors in the State.
The State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) had announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates winners of the 30 chairmanship and 332 councillorship seats in the local government elections held on Saturday.
Adeleke at the swearing-in ceremony held at Government House, Osogbo, urged the chairmen to deliver on good governance in their respective local governments.
The governor, however, advised them to stay away from the council secretariats to avoid clash with the opposition party.
“An Osun State High Court has affirmed the vacancies in both the chairmanship and Councillorship positions in all the local government areas of Osun State before your elections on Feb. 22.
“We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats. Please be patient and always abide by the rule of law,” he said.
While congratulating the chairmen and councillors, Adeleke urged them to deliver good governance to the people.
“I congratulate all newly elected council chairmen and councillors. You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments.
“I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the PDP.
“As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change, community developer and deliverer of dividends of democracy,” he said.
Adeleke commended OSSIEC for complying with all extant rules and procedures in the conduct of the elections.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for not allowing the state to be plunged to crisis during the elections.
“I assure Mr President of our commitment to the rule of law and the constitution for conflict resolution and governance process,” he said.
Adeleke also thanked the people of the state for coming out en mass to cast their votes during the elections.
“To the good people of Osun State, I use this occasion to express my gratitude for your steadfast support for our administration,” he said.
In his remarks, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who was the inauguration, urged political stakeholders not to allow the state to degenerate into crisis “over a matter that can be resolved by the judiciary.”
“If anybody has a judgment, there is a procedure for enforcement of court decisions. It is illegal to resort to self help,” he said.
The ceremony was also attended Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, who is also the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.
Earlier, the Chairman of OSSIEC, Hassim Abioye, presented certificates of return to elected chairmen.
Abioye, during the presentation, urged them to be good ambassadors of democracy, both in conduct and service to the people.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has directed its “reinstated chairmen” to resume in their respective local government areas on Monday.
The party stated this in a statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo on Sunday.
The statement said that the purported directive that the chairmen and councillors should not report in their council areas was not from the party.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that it is imperative for the elected APC local government chairmen and councillors not to cease from resumption at their various local government council areas.
“As this will enable them to continue to serve the deprived people at the grassroots level of government.
“The APC is a party founded on the rules of law which is the reason the Court of Appeal, Akure, judgment of Feb. 10 is the basic instrument of your reinstatement,” it said.
APC calls Osun LG election by Gov Adeleke “illegal”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Local Government election conducted last Saturday by Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), labelling it illegal and unconstitutional.
Mr Felix Morka, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, issued the statement on Sunday in Abuja, describing the election as being in defiance of court rulings.
“In blatant disregard for the rule of law and a valid judgment of the Court of Appeal, Gov. Adeleke 0conducted the election on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025,” Morka said.
He recalled that the Court of Appeal ruling of February 10 reinstated Local Government officials dismissed by Adeleke’s executive order, with the decision striking down a Federal High Court ruling from November 2022.
According to Morka, the Court of Appeal’s judgment nullified the previous ruling and reinstated the officials until the end of their term in October 2025.
He further criticised Adeleke’s actions in appointing illegal caretaker committees, violating Section 7(1) of the Constitution, and argued that the APC showed restraint and respect for the court’s decision.
Morka questioned why Adeleke, who swore to uphold the Constitution, failed to abide by a valid court order and termed the election a “sham” that wasted public funds and risked inciting violence.
He stressed that the governor must respect the law and the rights of the Osun people, calling on local government workers to peacefully continue their duties under the judicially reinstated officials.
Morka also urged security agencies to remain vigilant to prevent further unrest and called for the Federal Government to ensure that only democratically elected and judicially certified officials received local government funds in Osun.