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Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, says the local government election in the state will hold as scheduled.
The governor’s directive comes after Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, appealed to Adeleke to suspend the February 22 poll.
On Thursday, Fagbemi said ousted LGA chairpersons must be reinstated since the court of appeal had dismissed the judgment of the lower court that sacked them.
In a statement on Friday, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke’s spokesperson, said democracy is hinged on the rule of law and that nobody can assume the authority of the courts.
“My advice to all parties, including local and national stakeholders, is to abide by democratic norms,” the statement reads.
“As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help.
“Election is going to hold and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level. I urge our people to remain peaceful.
“Osun is a truly peaceful state.”
BACKGROUND
On Monday, violence broke out at some LGA secretariats in Osun after supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed.
Bullets were fired during the clash as many residents scampered for safety, with at least six persons shot dead.
The crisis in the state stemmed from the judgment of the court of appeal on sacked council chairpersons and councillors — who are members of the APC.
The PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the court of appeal in Akure, Ondo state, did not reinstate the sacked chairpersons and councillors, while the APC insists that they were reinstated.
In November 2022, the Osun governor directed the heads of local government areas and council development areas to take charge of their councils.
The governor had said the decision was in compliance with a federal high court judgment that declared the LGA election that brought the chairpersons and councillors into office illegal.
