The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has secured victory in all chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 30 local government areas (LGAs) of Osun State.
The Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, made this announcement at a press conference on Saturday.
Despite warnings from the police and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to suspend the election, the commission proceeded with the poll. It based its decision on a ruling by the Osun State High Court in Ilesa, which mandated the electoral body to conduct elections for vacant chairmanship and councillorship positions.
Voting commenced as early as 8 a.m. in several LGAs, including Ede North, where Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his vote.
After participating in the election, the governor described the process as peaceful. “The process has been very peaceful, I made a broadcast to my good people of Osun State that this election should be peaceful, there should be no violence because Osun State is a very peaceful state,” he said.
Earlier, the OSSIEC chairman accused the police of sealing the commission’s headquarters in Osogbo and arresting some staff members. He stated that the commission relocated to an undisclosed location to fulfill its constitutional mandate.
On Friday, the police had issued a warning against holding the election, citing credible intelligence about potential violence. This was in line with the stance of the AGF, who advised Governor Adeleke to halt the election.
According to the justice minister, the Court of Appeal in Akure, on February 10, 2025, overturned a Federal High Court ruling from November 25, 2022. The AGF noted that this decision effectively reinstated the previously sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) local council chairmen.
Tensions between PDP and APC members escalated into violence, leading to at least six deaths since Monday.
Before the conflict, Governor Adeleke had accused APC members, with support from security forces, of attempting to seize control of council secretariats. He urged President Bola Tinubu to restrain one of his ministers, Gboyega Oyetola, but no action appeared to have been taken, leading to further unrest.
