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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its withdrawal from the local government election slated for Saturday in Osun State.
A letter by its state secretary, Alao Kamoru, to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), yesterday, posited that the implication of the appeal court judgment in suit number CA/AK/270/2022, is that the local council seats are no longer vacant.
“Recall that a judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 was meritoriously nullified on February 10, 2025, by the Appeal Court in Akure in Appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022 between the All Progressives Congress & 3 Ors vs the Peoples Democratic Party & Ors and by the judgment, the elected officers have resumed offices as allowed by the appeal court judgment.
“The implication of the Appeal Court judgment as cited above is that the local council seats are no longer vacant.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby state that the All Progressives Congress and all its candidates have by this letter informed the Commission that we withdraw from the local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025, having become unnecessary, superfluous and unlawful with the development,” APC said.
Similarly, a chieftain of the APC, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on Governor Ademola Adeleke to disembark from the local government election slated for Saturday.
Noting that there is no vacuum at the local council areas, Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker in the state, posited that conducting local government elections would be an aberration.
In a statement yesterday, Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said the intervention of the president had become necessary due to the possible outbreak of violence that the conduct of the election may cause in the state.
According to him, rather than conducting the election, which could generate a crisis, the state government should approach the Supreme Court, if not satisfied with the Court of Appeal judgement.
An elder statesman, and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Olu Alabi, has condemned the killings that followed the battle for the control of local governments in Osun State.
In a statement yesterday, Alabi posited that the unrest that led to killings and destruction of property were unnecessary.
Noting that Osun has long been known for its peaceful and harmonious political atmosphere, Alabi said the ongoing unrest was alien to the character of the state.
“The unfortunate events that have unfolded in recent days were entirely avoidable, as His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had earlier warned political actors across all parties to desist from actions that could destabilise the state. In his world press briefing on Sunday, February 16, 2025, the Governor reiterated the need for restraint of actions that may jeopardise the peace and sanity of the state, but it is unfortunate that some elements chose to ignore this call.
“Politics should never erode our collective humanity. The quest for power, whether in seeking or retaining it, should not degenerate into acts of violence, intimidation and lawlessness. “While political competition is natural in any democracy, it must be guided by decorum and adherence to the rule of law. No ambition is worth the blood of innocent citizens, and it is unacceptable for any individual or group to attempt to forcefully impose their will through violence.
“The judiciary remains the legitimate arbiter of electoral disputes, and its decisions, whether in favour of one party or the other, must be pursued through lawful means. Any grievances must be addressed within the legal framework, and under no circumstances should individuals take the law into their hands. The resort to brute force by political actors seeking to impose their aspirations is highly condemnable and must be rejected by all well-meaning people.
“It is also important to recognise that the people of Osun State have made their voices heard through democratic processes. Beyond having a PDP-led government, all three senatorial districts and all nine federal constituency seats in the state are currently represented by PDP members. This overwhelming alignment is not a coincidence but a clear expression of the people’s mandate. Any party or individual who believes they enjoy popular support should take their case to the polls rather than resorting to violence in a bid to hijack power through the backdoor.
“At this critical juncture, I implore the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies to continue to intervene and restore order in Osun State. The peace and stability of the state must not be compromised for any political interest. Law enforcement agencies must act decisively to prevent further violence and ensure that those responsible for inciting unrest are held accountable.
“Furthermore, I urge political leaders across all divides to prioritise the collective good over personal ambition. Leadership comes with responsibility, and at no point should politicians sacrifice the security and well-being of citizens on the altar of political expediency. Political parties must caution their supporters against engaging in violent actions that endanger lives and property.
“The people of Osun State deserve a peaceful environment where governance and development can thrive. We must not allow divisive politics to erode the significant progress recorded under the current administration. I appeal to all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders and community influencers, to join forces in advocating for peace and stability across the state,” Alabi added.
