The All Progressives Congress has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State of violating his oath of office and the rule of law following the conduct of a local government election on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
APC noted the LG election shouldn’t have been held despite a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal reinstating previously sacked officials.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described Adeleke’s actions as a “wanton disregard for the rule of law” and a violation of the Court of Appeal’s February 10, 2025, ruling.
The statement titled, “Adeleke Must Remedy Flagrant Breach of His Oath of Office,” emphasised that the court’s decision effectively reinstated the LG officials who were removed through an executive order issued by Governor Adeleke in 2022.
“To be clear, in its judgment, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the judgment of the Federal High Court and held that the suit was incompetent and was struck out accordingly.
“In effect, the Court of Appeal nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court and reinstated the sacked local government officials until the expiration of their term of office in October 2025. That is the valid, subsisting, and binding legal position on the matter,” Morka stated.
The APC also criticised Governor Adeleke’s appointment of “caretaker committees” following the sack of the local government officials in 2022, describing the move as illegal and a direct violation of Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected councils.
The party noted that despite the Federal High Court’s adverse decision in 2022, it chose to pursue legal redress rather than resorting to violence or self-help.
It questioned Governor Adeleke’s reluctance to comply with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, highlighting the governor’s responsibility to uphold constitutional principles.
“Why is it so difficult for Governor Adeleke, who swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, to abide by a valid order of the Court of Appeal reinstating the sacked local government officials?
“Why is the Governor and his PDP vehement on taking matters into their own hands in disregard of a valid judgment of the Court of Appeal?
“Why is Governor Adeleke so desperate and determined to incite anarchy in Osun state with impunity?” the statement queried.
The APC dismissed Saturday’s local government election as “nothing but a disgraceful sham, illegal, unconstitutional, and violently contemptuous of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, and of no effect whatsoever.”
The party further accused the governor of wasting public funds and escalating tensions in an already volatile state.
Stating that Adeleke is under a constitutional duty to respect the rule of law, the APC urged him to follow due process by appealing to the Supreme Court if dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s decision.
“The sensible and democratic remedy available to Adeleke is to exercise his government’s right to appeal to the Supreme Court in the matter,” Morka asserted.
The statement further urged local government workers in Osun State to continue their duties under the judicially reinstated chairmen and councillors while calling on security agencies to maintain order amid the tensions arising from the election.
The party also called on the Federal Government to ensure that federal allocations are made available only to democratically elected and judicially recognised officials in Osun State.
“The people of Osun State deserve to live in peace and security. Governor Adeleke must quit his political infantilism and uphold peace and constitutional order in the state,” the statement concluded.
