Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for moving forward with the state’s local government elections.
In a post shared on his official X handle on Saturday, Atiku urged for a peaceful and incident-free election. He also called on security agencies and electoral officials to carry out their responsibilities with utmost dedication and fairness.
“As residents in Osun State go out to the polls today to elect council chairpersons, I once again urge for a peaceful and hitch-free exercise,” Atiku stated. “The local council election is the heartbeat of a democratic system, given that its outcome impacts closely on the lives of the citizens. I commend Governor Ademola Adeleke for going ahead with the exercise and urge security agencies and polling officials to perform their duties with the highest sense of responsibility to the public.”
Despite Atiku’s support, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Nigeria Police, had called for the suspension of the election, citing credible intelligence suggesting potential violence and security threats if the polls were to proceed.
A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, highlighted these concerns, stating that intelligence reports indicated a high risk of unrest if the elections were held as scheduled.
Osun State Government dismissed the security concerns raised by the Nigeria Police, arguing that the call for suspension was politically motivated. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government maintained that the elections must go ahead, upholding the principles of the rule of law and rejecting any perceived partisan interference.
Backing the state government’s position, an Osun State High Court in Ilesa ruled on Friday that vacancies existed across all 30 local government areas (LGAs) in the state. The court ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with filling these positions.
Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, presiding over a motion filed by the PDP against OSSIEC and its chairman, Hashim Abioye, directed law enforcement agencies to provide security during and after the elections.
This ruling follows a previous judgement by the Federal High Court on November 30, 2022, which invalidated the council elections held on October 15, 2022. The Federal High Court’s decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025, reinforcing the need for fresh elections to address the vacant council positions.
