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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government in Ila-Orangun and Osun State chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Idowu Abiodun, has urged the state government to cease its routine court actions which he believes hindering progress and prevent citizens from enjoying the dividends of democracy.
At a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, Abiodun stated that the frequent procurement of court orders is detrimental to the advancement of Osun State. “They have gone to several high courts, even to courts in Oyo State, neglecting our own high court in Osun. They are now seeking injunctions in Abuja and potentially magistrate courts,” he claimed. “This is merely an attempt to bar development in Osun State. We have not been able to access local government funds due to these persistent legal challenges.”
He emphasised that the ongoing legal battles causing delays to local governance operations are embarrassing, stating, “It is unacceptable for us to have gone from high courts to the Supreme Court and now back to magistrate courts.”
APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, claimed that the Osun State government has disregarded a February 10, 2025, ruling by the Court of Appeal that nullified a prior judgment which had ousted APC chairmen. Lawal noted that the state government has not appealed this ruling in the Supreme Court yet proceeded to conduct another local government election on February 22, 2025.
He criticised the government for dismissing the Court of Appeal’s verdict and claimed that it had relied on a lower court judgment in a similar case. “Despite advice to respect the February 10 ruling, the state government has initiated multiple lawsuits concerning the same matter,” he said, describing the situation as shocking.
Lawal highlighted a specific instance when a judge from Osun State purportedly interpreted the Court of Appeal ruling and directed the government to conduct fresh elections within a mere 48 hours, effectively undermining the appellate court’s judgment.
Despite these tumultuous developments, he noted that the APC members did not resort to civil unrest but opted to file a suit to annul the judge’s decision and petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further action.
The APC also stated that NULGE led by Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, aligned with the PDP, filed a new lawsuit seeking the court’s recognition of the PDP candidates as legitimate chairmen and councillors in the local governments, saying, “this matter remains unresolved.”
Abiodun and Lawal collectively called on the Osun State government to prioritize governance over litigation, emphasising the need for stability and productivity within local councils.
