A renewed legal twist has sparked political tensions in Osun State as the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) engage in a war of words over the latest ruling by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, concerning the controversial local government elections held on October 15, 2022.
In a judgment delivered virtually on Friday, Justice Peter Obiorah dismissed an application filed by the APC seeking to relist an appeal previously struck out on January 13 for lack of diligent prosecution. The judge ruled that reviving the appeal would only create judicial uncertainty and emphasized that the application lacked merit.
The case originated from a suit filed by the All Peoples Party (APP) against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), challenging the legality of the LG elections which featured only APC candidates. After the Federal High Court nullified the election, the APC attempted to appeal the ruling — an appeal that was subsequently struck out due to inactivity.
In the latest development, the appellate court rejected the APC’s request to restore the appeal, reinforcing the existing ruling that nullified the 2022 LG elections.
Reacting to the ruling, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the judgment further affirms the validity of the Federal High Court’s decision that voided the tenure of the APC-elected local government officials.
“With the dismissal of Appeal No FHC/OS/CS/94/2022, the judgment of the lower court remains binding and in effect,” Alimi noted.
“The APC’s actions brought avoidable political instability to our state, resulting in the unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of property.”
However, the APC swiftly countered the narrative. In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Olabisi, the party accused the PDP-led state government of intentionally misrepresenting the facts of the ruling.
“The judgment delivered today pertains only to an abandoned appeal and does not affect the February 10, 2025 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which reinstated the sacked local government chairmen and councillors,” Olabisi stated.
“That ruling remains valid and binding, and unless overturned by the Supreme Court — which has not happened — our elected officials remain lawfully in office.”
The APC urged members of the public to disregard what it described as “deliberate misinformation” by the state government, insisting that the recent ruling has no legal bearing on the existing appellate judgment in their favor.
As the legal and political wrangling continues, residents of Osun State are left watching closely, with implications for governance and party politics likely to unfold in the coming weeks.
