Osun LG Dispute: PDP Chairmen Present Appeal Court Judgment to AGF, Seek Federal Recognition and Enforcement

The 30 PDP-elected Osun State Local Government Chairmen have presented a certified Appeal Court judgment to the Attorney General, demanding Federal Government recognition of their February 2025 election victory and immediate enforcement.

A major legal and political showdown is unfolding in Osun State as 30 elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, who won their seats during the February 22, 2025 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have formally presented a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a June 13, 2025 Appeal Court judgment to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The move, supported by a detailed submission from Mike Ozekhome & Chambers, calls on the Federal Government to recognize the legitimacy of the PDP’s local government administration and enforce the ruling that invalidated the 2022 elections conducted under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The CTC was submitted via a letter dated June 23, 2025, and officially acknowledged by the Federal Ministry of Justice on June 24, 2025.

“Toyin Abraham Reflects On Love, Faith, And Fulfilment In Marriage To Kolawole Ajeyemi”

Court Ruling Voids APC’s 2022 LG Elections, Validates PDP’s 2025 Victory

The Appeal Court’s ruling followed a lengthy legal battle rooted in suits filed in 2022 challenging the legality of the APC-dominated local government elections held on October 15, 2022. Two key cases—FHC/OS/CS/94/2022 filed by the PDP and FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 filed by the Allied Peoples Party (APP)—accused the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) of gross irregularities and violation of the Electoral Act 2022.

Delivering its judgment, the Appeal Court declared the 2022 elections “unconstitutional, invalid, null, and void,” noting that they breached multiple sections of the Electoral Act including Sections 28, 29, 32, 98, and 150.

In effect, all officeholders elected in 2022 under the APC were declared illegally constituted and removed from office. The court affirmed that the only lawful and validly conducted elections were those organized by OSSIEC on February 22, 2025, under the current PDP-led administration.

Ozekhome: “No Legal Grounds Exist for APC’s Reinstatement”

Speaking on behalf of the elected officials, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) made clear that the Appeal Court never issued any order reinstating the 30 APC Chairmen or Councillors. Referencing Appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022, Ozekhome explained that the court’s finding—that the PDP’s initial suit was speculative—did not translate into a validation of the APC’s 2022 elections, nor did it carry any enforceable directive to reinstate the APC officeholders.

Instead, he argued, “the Federal High Court’s ruling in the APP suit remains binding and extant law,” as the APC failed to diligently pursue their own appeal—CA/AK/266M/2024—which was eventually struck out by the Court of Appeal on February 13, 2025.

The APC’s subsequent attempt to relist the appeal was dismissed again on June 13, 2025, by a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Akure, led by Justice Peter Chudi Obiorah, with Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoyele and Hadiza Rabiu Shagari concurring.

“APC Chairmen Are Impostors” – Appeal Court Ruling

Ozekhome cited the June 13 Appeal Court decision as irrefutable proof that no legal or constitutional backing remains for the APC’s continued occupation of LG offices across Osun State. He quoted the court’s position from page 16 of the ruling:

“The dismissal of the appeal means that… the said judgment stands as the authority defining the state of affairs as it regards the status of the officers of the various Local Government Councils in Osun State.”

He further stressed that the same judgment affirmed the February 22, 2025 OSSIEC elections that brought the PDP candidates into office, which had earlier been mandated by the Osun State High Court on February 21, 2022.

Eight Urgent Prayers to the Attorney General

In the final part of the submission, eight specific prayers were presented to the AGF to ensure enforcement of the Appeal Court judgment and uphold constitutional order:

1. Recognition of the June 13, 2025 Appeal Court ruling in Appeal No. CA/AK/15/2025.
2. Rejection of any further claims by the sacked APC Chairmen and Councillors.
3. Withdrawal of a March 26, 2025 directive that erroneously recognized the APC officials.
4. Rescind federal financial authorizations made to the invalid APC officeholders.
5. Affirm the legitimacy of the PDP Chairmen/Councillors elected in February 2025.
6. Direct federal financial agencies (CBN, Ministry of Finance, AGF, etc.) to remit allocations to the PDP-led LGs.
7. Order security agencies (Police, DSS, NSCDC, Army) to withdraw support for the ousted APC officials.
8. Ensure full protection for the validly elected PDP LG officials to perform their duties without harassment.

Implications for Osun Governance and National Politics

This development could trigger a political realignment in Osun State’s local governance, with the Federal Government now at the center of the dispute. The issue also brings to light long-standing tensions between state electoral commissions and constitutional oversight at the federal level, especially in the conduct of local government elections.

If the AGF acts in accordance with the legal requests, the 30 sacked APC Chairmen will be legally compelled to vacate their offices, potentially facing sanctions for contempt of court. More significantly, federal agencies may need to urgently revise financial and operational dealings with the Osun LG system.

For now, the spotlight rests squarely on Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the Federal Ministry of Justice, whose decision could determine the next chapter in Osun State’s battle for local government legitimacy.