The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has ordered the immediate reinstatement of elected local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State, reversing their dismissal by Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the appellate court directed the council officials, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to resume office immediately.
However, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has challenged the judgment, filing an appeal against the decision. The state government has also applied for a stay of execution, pending the outcome of the appeal.
Governor Adeleke had sacked the local government officials in November 2022, citing a High Court ruling that nullified their election. The election, conducted by OSSIEC, was contested in court by the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties. They argued that the process was flawed, as only APC candidates were on the ballot, with voters given a simple “YES” or “NO” option.
With the legal battle far from over, the fate of Osun’s local government administration remains uncertain as both sides prepare for further court proceedings.
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