The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has decided to sit out the upcoming local government election set for February 22. This comes after a Court of Appeal ruling earlier this week brought back their sacked members to office, and the party isn’t happy with the state’s plans to push ahead with the poll.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has decided to sit out the upcoming local government election set for February 22. This comes after a Court of Appeal ruling earlier this week brought back their sacked members to office, and the party isn’t happy with the state’s plans to push ahead with the poll.
Here’s a bit of backstory:
Back in 2022, during the final days of Adegboyega Oyetola’s time as governor, APC members won local council seats in a controversial “Yes or No” election. That vote was later thrown out by the Federal High Court, which called it illegal. When Governor Ademola Adeleke took over in November 2022, he sacked those council leaders, sparking a legal battle that ended up at the Court of Appeal. On Monday, the court ruled in favor of the APC, reinstating their people. Despite this, the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) still scheduled the election for February 22.
On Friday, Adegboyega Oyetola, who’s now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the APC leader in Osun, made it clear where the party stands. Speaking at the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign office, he said the party won’t take part in the election, calling it illegal. “Any election after the Court of Appeal’s verdict is against the law,” he said. “We can’t be part of it.”
Oyetola went on to explain that, as far as the party’s concerned, the council positions aren’t even vacant, so there’s no need for a new election. “Our chairmen will go back to their offices with the full backing of the law,” he said. “The Court of Appeal’s decision will be followed through. I’m telling our chairmen and councillors to stay calm and not get into any fights—we’re a party that loves peace.”
He also had a cheerful message for the reinstated council leaders: “Go home and celebrate! I’ll come visit you all in your offices soon.”
Earlier, Tajudeen Lawal, the APC State Chairman, praised Oyetola for his leadership and for standing by the party during the court case. He credited Oyetola’s support for helping secure the reinstatement of APC members across 30 councils in Osun.
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