Defying the Odds: Adeleke Stands His Ground as Osun LG Elections Hold Amidst Federal Pushback
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has walked a tightrope of power, defying warnings from the Federal Government and security agencies to push ahead with local government elections—a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape. Against a backdrop of legal battles, security concerns, and partisan resistance, Adeleke’s determination has set the stage for a high-stakes democratic confrontation. Hands crossed as seemly a party-cum-power fight make way to loggerheads.
For weeks, the battle lines had been drawn. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, issued a stern warning: the election should not hold. The basis? A recent Court of Appeal ruling in Akure that reinstated sacked local government chairmen, effectively declaring their tenure valid until October 2025. Fagbemi called Adeleke’s move an “egregious breach of the Constitution.”
The police, in lockstep with the federal stance, cautioned that proceeding with the elections could incite violence. But Adeleke, unwavering, dismissed the warnings as politically motivated and reaffirmed his commitment to the democratic process. In a statement issued by his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, the governor made it clear that there was no turning back. “As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help. The election is going to hold, and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level,” he declared.
For Adeleke, this was not just a political decision but a symbolic assertion of state autonomy—a challenge to the overreach of federal influence in local governance.
The legal tangle only thickened. An Ilesa High Court had ruled in favour of the elections, directing the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with filling vacant positions across the 30 local government areas. The judgment, however, drew sharp criticism from opposition figures. Remi Omowaiye, a former commissioner and a key voice in the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissed the ruling as “judicial rascality,” arguing that a lower court had no business contradicting a superior ruling that already reinstated APC-elected officials. But despite the opposition’s protests and the weight of federal pressure, the election machine rolled forward. By dawn, voting had commenced across Osun’s local government areas, with reports of strong voter turnout. In Egbedore, one of the key battlegrounds, the process unfolded under the watchful eyes of security operatives and election monitors. Governor Adeleke himself arrived at his polling unit in Ede, casting his vote in what many saw as a direct statement of defiance. Speaking to journalists, he urged citizens to participate without fear, describing the process as seamless and well-organised.
The APC, meanwhile, largely boycotted the elections, maintaining that the process was illegitimate. Their argument was simple: the chairmen and councillors elected under the previous administration had been restored by the Court of Appeal, rendering any fresh election an exercise in futility. But Adeleke’s supporters countered that the reinstated officials had no legitimacy, having lost their mandates in a previous legal battle. The clash was no longer just about governance—it was about control, influence, and the very nature of local democracy in Osun. Security concerns loomed large. In the lead-up to the polls, political violence had already claimed multiple lives, raising alarms about potential flashpoints. The police had warned of possible disruptions, but the state government pressed ahead, imposing movement restrictions from 5 am to 5 pm to maintain order. By midday, reports suggested a largely peaceful voting process, though the air remained thick with tension.
For Adeleke, this election was more than just an administrative exercise—it was a defining moment. His ability to push through despite legal entanglements and federal opposition signalled a shift in the balance of power between state and federal authorities. Whether his gamble would hold or crumble under legal contestation remained to be seen, but one thing was certain: Osun had once again become a battleground for Nigeria’s ever-evolving democratic experiment. As the ballots are counted and the dust settles, the outcome of this election will determine not just the leadership at the grassroots level but the future of political brinkmanship in Osun State. What happens next could set a precedent—either reinforcing state autonomy in local governance or reaffirming federal might in dictating the rules of engagement. Either way, Adeleke has made his mark. The battle for Osun’s local governments is far from over.
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