The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has lauded the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, for proceeding with the local government election despite opposition from the Federal Government.
In a statement released via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Atiku expressed his support for a peaceful and orderly electoral process, emphasizing the critical role local government elections play in democratic governance. He also urged security agencies and electoral officials to carry out their duties with professionalism and integrity.
“As residents in Osun State go out to the polls today to elect council chairpersons, I once again urge for a peaceful and hitch-free exercise.
“The local council election is the heartbeat of a democratic system, given that its outcome impacts closely on the lives of the citizens.
“I commend Governor Ademola Adeleke for going ahead with the exercise and urge security agencies and polling officials to perform their duties with the highest sense of responsibility to the public,” Atiku stated.
The local government elections in Osun State have been mired in controversy following an advisory from the Federal Government, which sought to halt the process. The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force, had called for the suspension of the elections, citing credible intelligence indicating potential security threats and a likelihood of violence.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, asserted that the intelligence received by the authorities pointed to imminent security risks if the election were allowed to proceed. However, despite these concerns, the Osun State Government dismissed the advisory, insisting on the constitutional necessity of the elections.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday night, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, rebuffed the police advisory, accusing the security agencies of partisanship. He emphasized that the state government was acting in accordance with the rule of law and would not succumb to what he described as undue federal interference.
“The grounds for rejecting the advice were based on the rule of law and aversion to police partisanship. The police should focus on their primary responsibility of providing security rather than engaging in political interference,” the statement read.
The state government further argued that the police advisory contradicted judicial pronouncements on the issue. Earlier, an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa had affirmed that vacancies existed in all 30 local government areas (LGAs) in the state and ruled that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) had a constitutional obligation to conduct elections to fill the vacant offices.
Delivering judgment on a motion filed by the PDP in suit number HIL/M/.192025 against OSSIEC and its chairman, Hashim Abioye, Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe ruled that the LGAs in Osun State had remained without legitimate leadership since the election conducted by OSSIEC on October 15, 2022, was declared invalid by a Federal High Court on November 30, 2022.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed this decision in a ruling delivered on January 13, 2025, thereby solidifying the legal basis for the fresh elections.
In his ruling, Justice Aderibigbe mandated law enforcement agencies to provide adequate security before, during, and after the local government elections to ensure a smooth and credible process.
With the elections proceeding as scheduled, the Osun State Government remains resolute in its stance that democratic processes should not be derailed by political or security concerns that lack judicial backing. Governor Adeleke’s defiance of the federal directive has been viewed as a strong assertion of state autonomy and a commitment to grassroots democracy.
As voters in Osun State exercise their civic rights, all eyes remain on the electoral process, with stakeholders hoping for a peaceful and credible outcome that will further strengthen the democratic framework at the local government level.
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