Ero Arike: Addressing Falsehoods with Facts

PRESS STATEMENT

28/02/2025

Ero Arike: Addressing Falsehoods with Facts

In an era where misinformation spreads faster than truth, it is unfortunate, but not surprising that I find my principal Gov.Ademola Adeleke the subject of baseless and absurd accusations by Alhaja Yusuf Falilat Arike, Ero Arike.

While we prefer to focus energy on meaningful endeavors rather than responding to sensationalized distortions, I cannot allow blatant falsehoods to go unchallenged.

This statement is not only to refute the misleading claims made against my principal and generality of the Adeleke family but also to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency, and truth. Those who peddle fabrications may hope to sow doubt, but facts remain our strongest defense against deception.

It's awful seeing an outburst where she claimed providing significant financial aid to a family whose legacy and financial prowess is well known across the western region and the country at large. More deteriorating to say it was a bargain of a deal. There was no deal and the Adeleke family signed no pact with her.

There was no financial inducement for an elected and appointed position. The Adeleke family is well blessed and therefore needed no such inducement. The family always emphasizes adherence to rules and party constitution. Is it not absurd to claim to have bought Boripe council position for N5m from a billionaire Adeleke family?

Losing out in a party race is normal for our party ideology honors transparency, truth and commitment to the development of both the party and state affairs at large. All interests must submit to party rules and regulations.

Madam Ero Arike expected the Adeleke family to breach party rules to impose her husband as the party candidate. The family said No, internal democracy must prevail. That is the only sin of the Adeleke family.

Falsehoods may be loud, but the truth endures. Those who resort to baseless accusations and sensationalism do so out of desperation, not credibility. We stand by our record, our values, and the facts, all of which speak louder than any fabricated narrative.

We will not be distracted by attempts to undermine our reputation, nor allow misinformation to take root unchallenged. Our focus remains on meaningful work and progress, not on entertaining baseless claims.

Mama (Alhaja Ero Arike) is only suffering from her inexperience with internal democracy and that’s what led to the uncontrollable outburst by mama. With time, mama will overcome this challenge.

To those who seek the truth, I encourage careful scrutiny of the facts. And to those who manufacture deceit—let this be a reminder: integrity always outlasts dishonesty.

Signed: Comr. Oladejo Bashiru, SSA On Students Affairs, Ward 02, Unit 6, Iragbiji, Boripe LG.

Rev. Bunmi Jenyo Expresses Heartfelt Gratitude on His 63rd Birthday Celebration

APPRECIATION

Glory, honour and adorable forever to my Maker, the Almighty GOD!!!

I sincerely appreciate the Executive Governor of Osun State, the Asiwaju of Edeland and Imole Adulawo, Sen. (Dr.) Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, his wives and entire family for celebrating with me on the occasion of my 63rd birthday anniversary, held on 26th February, 2025.

His Excellency, the number one citizen of our loving State of the Living Spring, Governor Ademola Adeleke remains a point of reference to recognize everybody who celebrated with me on Wednesday, 26th February 2025.

However, due recognition and mention must be made of the members of the State Executive Council, National Assembly members, House of Assembly members, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, Business magnates, my School mates (Secondary and Higher institutions), friends and all well wishers who thronged my private residence in jubilation, courtesy of my special day.

My gratitude also goes to my people, both old and young in Ila-Orangun community, the entire PDP leaders and members across the country, for their massive support.

I specially appreciate my immediate family for believing in me and standing firmly by me in my evolvement towards a greater goal tomorrow, GOD willing.

Gifts in the form of prayers, text, social media postings, hampers and words of encouragement from people across the globe, are indeed, not taken for granted.

Ohun rere la o maa barawa se, ajose wa koni baje lase EDUNMARE, Amin.

Mo dupe pupo, Mo mo loore.

Signed: Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun State. 28th February, 2025.

GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE CELEBRATES REV. BUNMI JENYO IN GRAND STYLE

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Sen. Dr. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has celebrated the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, describing him as a jolly good fellow.

The birthday celebration, held in the evening of February 26, which took place at the Commissioner's private residence welcomed key government figures as well as bigwigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, led by the Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi.

Members of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and other key political class use the occasion to meet and share together in the mood of the birthday celebration.

Personalities from the business world, home town, Ila-Orangun led by the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Nasiru Jayeola Adebisi, friends, Management and staff of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, loved ones and well wishers were not left out in the celebration.

It was indeed a joyous occasion as dignitaries too numerous to mention and Mr. Governor's entourage thronged the venue in celebration of the special occasion.

Governor Adeleke Sets Up Panel of Enquiry on Esa Oke - Ayegunle Chieftaincy Dispute

NEWS RELEASE

Governor Adeleke Sets Up Panel of Enquiry on Esa Oke - Ayegunle Chieftaincy Dispute

●Inauguration Holds March 4th - HC Dosu Babatunde

OSOGBO- 27/02/2025 - Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the constitution of a panel of enquiry on the recent chieftaincy dispute involving Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle towns of Obokun local government of Osun state.

The state Governor had promised to set up the committee when he visited both Esa Oke and Ido Ayegunle during recent communal clashes.

Governor Adeleke who was accompanied to the towns by top state officials frowned at the destruction of properties and vowed to dig to the root of the matter for final solution and resolution.

The panel is to be chaired by the Special Adviser to the Governor on House of Assembly Matters, Rt. Hon Ropo Oyewole.

Other members of the panel includes the Special Adviser to the Governor on security Matters, Barrister Samuel Ojo; a representative of the permanent secretary, Ministry of justice; Permanent secretary, Ministry of Regional integration - Mr. M.O Oyedeji; Director, staff Welfare, Public service office - Mr. J. Amusan.

The Deputy Director, Chieftaincy affairs, Ministry of local Government and chieftaincy affairs, Mrs Adeola Ajekigbe is to serve as the panel secretary.

The terms of Reference are as follows:

(a) To determine the remote and immediate causes of the crisis which broke out on January 30, 2025 immediately after the state executive council approved the appointment of Prince Oluwatimileyin Oluyemi Ajayi as the Olojudo of Ido-Ayegunle in Obokun local Government.

(b) To recommend to government measures that will bring about lasting peace in the area ;

(c) To assess the damages on both towns and recommend remediation measures;

(d) Any other matter as determined by the panel which will aid in delivery of its assignment;

(d) To submit its recommendation to the government within two (2) weeks of its inauguration.

The panel is to submit its recommendation to the government within two (2) weeks of its inauguration.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon Dosu Babatunde has disclosed that the inauguration of the panel will be held on March 4th, 2025 at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Osogbo.

Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor.

GOVERNOR ADELEKE CELEBRATES COMMISSIONER JENYO ON BIRTHDAY

NEWS RELEASE

OSOGBO– 26/02/2025– Osunstate.gov.ng

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has congratulated the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, on the occasion of his birthday, applauding his sense of responsibility and dedication.

Governor Adeleke salutes Rev. Jenyo for the sustained contributions to deepening democracy in Osun state and beyond, praising him as a principled politician with admirable history of contributions, especially to the PDP, where he had served as the party's Secretary in the Southwest.

The Governor commends the Ila-born politician for his abiding faith in his vision to transform Osun state, acknowledging the depth of not just his expertise but also the energy he puts into getting assigned tasks done to satisfaction.

"I celebrate Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, as he marks a new age. Rev. Jenyo is a remarkable politician who has over the years warm hearts with his unbending conviction and untainted loyalty," the Governor noted in a congratulatory message.

Governor Adeleke acknowledges Rev. Jenyo's unwavering commitment to the delivery of the Imole mission for Osun people, noting that "As a member of the cabinet, I cannot but acknowledge the incredible values that comes from Rev. Jenyo's insights and debates on issues, and also, I commend him for his efforts towards our industrialisation goal."

The Governor wishes him more celebrations while praying for continuous good health and sound mind to contribute more to the betterment of our society.

Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor

OSUN LG: I DARE ANY LAWYER TO QUOTE WHERE COURT ORDERS REINSTATEMENT OF SACKED COUNCIL CHAIRMEN- JUBRIL OKUTEPA, SAN

FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutepa has challenged any lawyer to quote any section of the Court of Appeal judgement that ordered the reinstatement of the sacked Osun council chairmen.

Speaking on Arise TV News Night on Tuesday evening, the SAN said the judgement that sacked the council chairmen was upheld by another Court of Appeal judgment which dismissed an appeal filed by the APM and the APC..

In a strong declaration, the legal practitioner affirmed that no one can wake up and say he does not respect APP judgement because a null and void judgment until it is set aside remains a judgment of the Court.

Okutepa clarified further that the Osogbo High Court order that directed the holding of Osun local council polls was to enforce the Supreme Court ruling which had directed that caretaker committee should no longer happen at the local government levels, declaring that the court order obeyed by Osun electoral commission gave effect to the Supreme Court ruling and is therefore legal and constitutional.

Below is an extract from the NewsNight interview:

Arise TV: This Osun situation is looking like a basket case that refuses to go away and when you look at it, the Rule of Law is the first casualty, whichever side you belong to. There is the issue of whether it was proper for the Governor Adeleke to go ahead with the election considering the fact that the tenure of the “Reinstated” Local Government Chairmen is yet to lapse.

Jubrin Okutepa SAN: When you used the word “reinstated” local government Chairmen of the thirty Local Government in Osun State, I am wondering where you derive your authority from that proposition?

Interviewer: Were they not reinstated by the Appeal Court ?

Jubrin Okutepa SAN: No court ordered reinstatement of the council chairmen. I have taken my time to read the judgment of the Court of Appeal and there is nowhere the reinstatement of the chairmen was ordered by the court.

For us to understand this matter, there is a need to understand the historical context. Sometime in 2022, two political parties, PDP and APP went to Court to challenge the arrangement for Local Government election. They were two separate suits, PDP case was filed before the promulgation of Local Government Election Law of 2022. In both of this cases , the Federal High Court decided and held that the process, procedure leading to the election conducted by the then government of Governor Gboyega Oyetola was flawed, declared the election null and void and of no consequences and removed the persons who were purported to have been elected through that flawed election.

Indeed, the case was pending in Court when the said election was conducted and under the disciplinary power of the Court, the Court saw that, that conduct was an affront to the Rule of Law, the process pending before the Court and so in both two cases, the Court nullified and ordered that those who were purportedly elected vacate the office.

Now there were appeals; one Appeal by APC, another Appeal by APM against the two sets of judgment. Now in the first case involving APC V PDP, the court of Appeal looked at the entirety of the case, there were four issues for determination formulated in that case, the Court of Appeal resolved issue 1 and issue 2 and said; (1) the amendment granted by the Federal High Court when the case was pending was wrong; (2) the second order made by the Court Appeal in that process was the case itself was premature and that there was no cause of action and consequently resolved that issue 3 and 4 became academic.

So the Court of Appeal came to the conclusion that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to have entertained the matter in the first place and then struck out that case that was filled by PDP and made NO ORDER.

In the 53-page judgment that I have read, there is no where an order was made by the Court of Appeal and it is important for us as lawyer and general public not to read into judgment what is not there contained .

There was NO PRAYER before the Court of Appeal by any person for reinstatement and even if there were, prayer 3 and 4 was described by the Court of Appeal as academic and they ought not to go into it.

Fast forward, there is also another appeal, you know there were two separate judgments in which the purported election conducted by Governor Gboyega Oyetola were nullified. This time around, the second case, was the case that APM, one other person and APC were the appellants. Now when they filed the appeal, they went to sleep, they didn’t compile a record of appeal, they didn’t plead an argument.

Then, those who were respondent in the appeal now brought a motion before the Court of Appeal , because equity aids the vigilant, not the Indolent. There are procedures under the Court, that once you file an appeal, you compile the record of appeal within a certain number of days, file your brief of argument within a certain number of days. That your failure to do so, the consequences of that failure is a DISMISSAL of the appeal. And so the Court of Appeal in the second appeal dismissed the APC appeal filed by those who were aggrieved by the decision of the Federal High Court that nullified and set aside the election.

This means in law that the judgement of the Federal High Court which was appealed against but which appeal was not pursued and which appeal had now been dismissed remains a judgment of the Court. So there is NO ORDER in any of the judgments that those who were dismissed or removed or election declared null and void by the Federal High Court in the second case that was filed later in time have been ordered to be restored.

So when anybody therefore comes to say that there is a DISOBEDIENCE to Court Order, I wonder which Court Order?

My view, with profound respect, is that politicians will do well by learning to abide by the consequences of their actions.

ARISE TV: Politicians on all sides?

Jubrin Okutepa SAN: Yes, on all sides. You know what I always say in any society where the Rule of Law is bastardized , then you are likely to face the state of nature when the mighty become right.

So my view therefore is that rather than going public to insinuate what is not contained in the judgment and giving political coloration and interpretation to it to suit political purposes, they should go back to the processes, go back to the proceedings and then advise themselves.

But let me tell you it does not lie in the mouth of anybody, including myself, to say that the Judgment of the Federal High Court which had been, by implication of the dismissal of the appeal court, affirmed by a Court of Appeal, remains a judgment. And no one can wake up and he does not respect it because a null and void judgment until it is set aside remains a judgment of the Court.

ARISE TV: Thanks for your explanation, but why is it that Senior Advocates cannot agree on a matter and what is the hope of Nigerians trying to understand what is lawful and what is not, is it not the doing of judiciary, your colleagues?

Jubrin Okutepa SAN: No! Let me say this, we must make a distinction between when we appear here to say something and look at the background, and whether or not what we are saying can be defended from what is before the Court.

There is a political interpretation and there is unbiased legal interpretation.

What I have given to you is a legal opinion and I challenge any lawyer to come here and point to me where in the Court of Appeal’s judgments.

The inference I gave for the subsequent dismissal of the case means that nothing has touched the second judgment of the Federal High Court. As to whether or not the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to treat the matter, is not an argument that I can proffer here because the law that I know is that whoever knows that a order of court order against him or her is null and void one has the duty and responsibility to return to that court and ask that, that order be set aside.

My suggestion therefore, is that before you even invite us here, it is not out of place for you to pick a copy of the judgment to read.

ARISE TV: There are several judgements, there is an Appeal Court judgment, there is a Federal High Court Judgment and there is State High Court Judgment that has ordered the election to go on and there is another appeal proceeding that has now been reenlisted to be revived

Jubrin Kutepa SAN: Why do they file separate suits?

ARISE TV: We should ask the politicians

Jubrin Kutepa SAN: That is why I said politicians should learn how to play by the rules of the game.

ARISE TV: Is it like the Judiciary is aiding them?

Jubrin Kutepa SAN: No, I don’t agree with you, the judiciary had determined the case, the Federal High Court determined the two suits, nullified the election of the Yes/No chairmen.

ARISE TV: Will it be fair to say that the state government of Osun just cherry picked the judgment that suits her by following the High Court Judgment that ordered them to proceed with the election?

Jubrin Kutepa SAN: With profound respect, I am not from Osun but it will be uncharitable to say that the Osun State Government choose and pick which order to follow.There was an order from the State High Court commanding the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to go on and conduct the election.

For me that judgment is in line with the decisions of the Supreme Court that at any particular time the Local Government must be democratically run and not with caretaker. I do not see how the judgment that commands obedience to constitutional provision can be described as cherry picking or illegal.

OSUN PDP CHAIR DRAGS IGP TO COURT OVER PLANNED UNLAWFUL ARREST

The Chairman of Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Sunday Bisi has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Osogbo to enforce his fundamental rights and restrain the Inspector General of Police and his agents from carrying out his planned arrest.

Hon. Sunday Bisi describes the planned arrest as a flagrant and brazen attempt to encroach upon his fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement and as an abuse of the coercive powers which the Nation entrusts with the IGP.

According to the suit, the plan by the IGP to arrest the Osun PDP boss is designed to molest and punish him for opposing the IGP's unethical partisan engagements against the Peoples Democratic Party in the ongoing political tussle in the State and for encouraging his party and members to participate in the just concluded LG election in Osun State, contrary to the purported security advice given by the IGP to stop the eventually peaceful election.

It would be recalled that there were two separate Judgments of the Court of Appeal and Osun State High Court recognizing the vacancies in Osun Local Government Councils with the latter ordering the OSSIEC to conduct election to fill the vacancies.

Not satisfied with the Court Judgments which did not favour the IGP's favourite party, the IGP rolled out a purported security advice against the conduct of the election to counter the Court Judgments.

As an enlightened law-abiding citizen, Hon. Sunday Bisi preferred to obey the Court judgments instead of the controversial bias-laden purported security report of the IGP and instructed PDP and members to participate in the election. The peaceful nature of the election belied the IGP's report and exposed his most unprofessional compromise. The plan to arrest is to settle a score and get back at the PDP Chairman.

The PDP leader has prayed the Court to restrain the IGP and his agents from effecting the unlawful arrest plan.

WITHDRAW YOUR MOBILE POLICEMEN FROM OSUN STREETS, COALITION TASKS IGP

BREAKING NEWS

A civil society group, Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD) has called on the Inspector General of Police to withdraw the mobile policemen he deployed to the state from Abuja, declaring that Osun is peaceful and police service should not be a source of instability in the state.

The coalition also appealed to the Police Service Commission and the Minister of Police Affairs to prevail on the Inspector General of Police to stop ongoing harassment of Osun people by the mobile policemen, calling them “an army of occupation and partisan squad”.

“We have gone round Osun in the last 24 hours and our assessment is that the mobile policemen deployed to the state have no business being here. The approach adopted by the State Government has diffused tension as all actors are encouraged to toe the path of rule of law. Osun people are going about their daily business peacefully in line with the directive from the state government.

“Strangely, the mobile policemen are mounting roadblocks and putting tyres on the roads. Some of them are extorting motorists and creating artificial hold ups within and outside the capital. They are scheming to create an artificial sense of insecurity. The IGP should know that his men from Abuja are not needed here as Osun remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

“Despite the IGP's open partisanship in the Osun local government face off, he has a duty to remember his allegiance to the constitution and the judgement of history.

“We urge the IGP to retrace his steps before further damage is done to the image of the service. Rabid partisanship is not a sign of loyalty to the President but an approach undermining the credibility of the Federal Government before the public”, the group warned.

Signed: Ms Sade Aduloju, Security Sector Director. 25/02/2025 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15m5x6xCd8/?mibextid=oFDknk

LG Election: Adeleke General Summit Congratulates Abere Soose, Oladiti Aluko & Others

PRESS STATEMENT

OSOGBO-24/02/2025

The Adeleke General Summit, an umbrella body encompassing all support groups of Governor Ademola Adeleke under the leadership of the Adeleke Dynasty, has extended its congratulations to the newly elected local government officials in Osun State. Among those celebrated are Hon. Lukman Afolabi, popularly known as Abere Soose,the BOT Chairman Adeleke General Summit who emerged as Chairman of Ede South Local Government, and Hon. Oladiti Aluko, the Summit’s State Coordinator, who was elected as Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government. Other members of the Summit who secured positions as Vice Chairmen and Councilors were also recognized for their success in the election.

Speaking during an interview,the State Secretary of the Summit, Comrade Samakin Abdul-Jeleel Abiodun, commended His Excellency,Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke,and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for achieving victory despite challenges. He expressed optimism that the Governor would continue to demonstrate wisdom and leadership in steering the affairs of the state.

The Summit urged the newly elected officials to remain committed to fulfilling their campaign promises, emphasizing that their victories represent a call to service. Comrade Samakin reiterated that the interests of the grassroots population must remain their priority as they assume their respective offices.

Furthermore, he reassured members of the Adeleke General Summit who are yet to benefit from the administration that their time will come. He encouraged them to remain patient and steadfast in their support for Governor Adeleke’s government, affirming that every effort made during the struggle would be acknowledged.

"We believe that in due time, everyone will benefit from the Imole administration. His Excellency recognizes the contributions of all supporters, and as resources allow, everyone will be duly rewarded. While dividends of democracy may not be distributed simultaneously, they will reach all in due course," Comrade Samakin stated.

Additionally, he extended an open invitation to individuals interested in joining the Adeleke General Summit, emphasizing its inclusive nature. He also expressed appreciation to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), under the leadership of Abioye Hasim Esq., for ensuring a successful electoral process.

Addressing the opposition, Comrade Samakin issued a stern warning against any attempts to disrupt public order. "To the APC elements attempting to incite unrest, we urge you to refrain from any activities that could lead to a breakdown of law and order. Violators will face the full consequences of the law."

Once again, congratulations to all elected local government officials. We wish you a successful tenure.

E-Signed:

Comrade Samakin Abdul-Jeleel Abiodun,Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Media Monitoring

PDP Hails Gov. Adeleke, Osun People Over Successful LG Election

February 23, 2025

Press Statement

PDP Hails Gov. Adeleke, Osun People Over Successful LG Election

…Says It’s Triumph of Democracy, Rule of Law

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig congratulates Governor Ademola Adeleke, @AAdeleke_01 the Government and people of Osun State for the successful conduct and outcome of the Saturday, February 22, 2025 Local Government Area election in the State.

The success and outcome of the free, fair, transparent and credible Local Government election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) is a resounding triumph of democracy, the Rule of Law, Constitutional Principle of true federalism and the Will of the people of Osun State over the All Progressives Congress (APC) anti-democratic forces that sought to illegally and forcefully take control of their State.

Our Party salutes the people of Osun State for the courage in asserting their sovereignty and Constitutional right by coming out enmasse to vote in the election despite the vicious attempt by the APC to intimidate them and subvert the democratic process.

The PDP further asserts that its sweeping victory across the 30 Local Government Areas in the State in spite of the machinations of the APC is in further demonstration of PDP’s political supremacy in Osun State, the South West geo-political zone and across the nation.

Moreover, the PDP’s overwhelming victory in the election comes as the people’s response to the outstanding achievements of Governor Adeleke in his massive delivery of life-enhancing infrastructural, citizen empowerment and human capital projects in all critical sectors including power, healthcare, education, road construction, water resources, agriculture and food production among others in line with the manifesto and policy thrust of the PDP.

The PDP congratulates and charges the newly elected Osun State Local Government Chairmen and Councillors to be guided by Governor Adeleke’s vision so that the people at the grassroots will continue to enjoy the dividends of his people-first policy direction in governance.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba National Publicity Secretary

REV. BUNMI JENYO CONGRATULATES ELECTED LG CHAIRMEN, COUNCILLORS ACROSS OSUN STATE

REV. BUNMI JENYO CONGRATULATES ELECTED LG CHAIRMEN, COUNCILLORS ACROSS OSUN STATE

The Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo has congratulated the newly elected and sworn-in Local Government Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and 332 Councillors in the 30 Local Government areas and area office, Modakeke in Osun State.

This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner which was made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday.

According to him, "your resilience, consistency and hard work has now provided a platform for you where the expression of your good intentions for the downtrodden is made possible".

"As a Chairman or Councillor, your new position and status is an opportunity to deliver democracy dividends to the good people of Osun State in your respective localities. People at the grassroots must feel your positive impact, in your tenure of office", the Commissioner said.

He also urged them to represent the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, well in the eyes of the general public.

"You must portray yourselves as good ambassadors for our great party, PDP. It is actually not about you but how happy and fulfilled your electorates, our people at the grassroots can be, because of the positions you occupy today", the Commissioner said.

Rev. Jenyo prayed that the Almighty GOD will give them the wisdom, strength and enablement for a successful tenure of office.

Signed: Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun State. 23rd February, 2025.

OSUN GOVERNMENT REJECTS POLICE ADVICE ON LG ELECTION, SAYS OSUN IS PEACEFUL AND COURT ORDERS MUST BE OBEYED

NEWS RELEASE

OSOGBO - 21/02/2025 - Osunstate.gov.ng

Osun state government has acknowledged the security advice from the Nigerian Police Force but regret to announce that the advice is rejected on the ground of rule of law and aversion to police partisanship.

The state government under His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke has reviewed the advice and has come to the conclusion that the proposal from the force headquarters was biased, partisan and in contravention of democratic tenets. The pretence of the service to be serving public good while actually promoting illegality of the APC reinforces our rejection of a Greek gift.

From the beginning of this face off, the police has breached best practices by its open support for the All Progressive Congress, a party that is pushing for illegality through a non- existing court order. The whole world knows how the police actively aided the APC to enforce a reinstatement order that was never issued by any court of law.

A law enforcement agency has suddenly become a partisan wing of a political party, the APC, thereby losing all toga of a fair law agency. The negative role of the police to ignite the current face off made its advice a poison chocolate.

Beyond the above, we also call the attention of the police to the court judgment of today. It contains three orders which affirm vacancies in Osun councils by authenticating the sacking of the APC council chieftains. directed the police and other security agencies to provide security for the election and gave go ahead to fresh LG elections by Saturday 22nd.

Instead of the police to obey court order, the service is regrettably pursuing its partisan line by actively working against rule of law as espoused by today's court ruling.

If the police choses to disobey court orders, the Osun state government will not go against rule of law, hence the decision of the state government to support the state electoral commission to conduct a credible free and fair elections tomorrow.

We thank the police for their advice. We respectfully turned down the request while we urge Osun voters to peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday.

Signed: Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment

Blame Police for Any Violence on Saturday- Osun Democratic Coalition

BREAKING NEWS

A democracy advocacy group, Osun Democratic Coalition has called attention of the public to a clandestine plot by the Nigerian Police Force to plunge Osun into anarchy through targeted killings and maimings of Osun people.

Citing credible reports at its disposal, the group said hundreds of MOPOL personnel have been distributed across the state to foment trouble by launching indiscriminate attacks on PDP members.

The MOPOl are described as a strike force with direct instructions to make Osun ungovernable.

“We have credible reports that the police through MOPOl officers are sent to destabilize Osun state. They will attack innocent people, all to give the impression of a state in crisis.

“If you see bloodshed this Saturday, we call on the public to hold the police responsible. Hold the police accountable for any killing and maiming this Saturday.

“Their ultimate target is to escalate the crisis to support their agenda to declare a state of emergency. Osun people have seen through the evil plot. We reject anti- democratic elements.

“The police authorities should leave Osun alone. We are peaceful people. Our state is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. We support our dear state governor, a man of good governance”, the group posited.

E-signed Comrade Yeken Inaolaji, State Coordinator. 21/02/2025

OSUN IS PEACEFUL, IT IS THE POLICE SUPPORTING APC POSING THREATS TO THE STATE-GROUP

PRESS STATEMENT

21/02/2025

Our attention has been drawn to fake security and intelligence reports produced by the Nigeria Police Force to support the illegality being spearheaded by the State APC and the evil agenda to scuttle the Osun democratic process. There is no insecurity in Osun except the plot of the police to create mayhem in support of the APC.

The advice to the Osun state government not to proceed with the Local Government is a partisan suggestion from the NPF that has become a wing of the APC. The two grounds canvassed by the service are untenable and hypocritical.

On insecurity, the NPF itself abandoned its constitutional mandate by escorting sacked council chairmen to illegally take over the local government secretariats. Appeal court judgement at Akure contains no reinstatement order. But the police opted to enforce a non-existing court order. The subsisting APP judgement which sacked the council chieftains was ignored by the police.

So the so-called insecurity was orchestrated by the police in connivance with the APC to derail the Osun state government. Osun is a safe state and elections can be conducted peacefully if the police stop supporting illegality.

The police should remember that in Rivers, local elections were conducted even when the police pulled out. The Rivers people stood by rule of law. Osun people should do the same.

The second reason, the advice of the Attorney General, was even more faulty. The Attorney General was an interested party, a former Oyetola lawyer who assumed the power of the Court by attempting to stop the Osun election. AGF has no power to stop a state election. He is not a court of law. He is an APC operative who is serving the interest of his party.

We see the advice from the police as self-serving, illegal, undemocratic. hypocritical and unacceptable. We advise the Osun state government to ignore the police position and proceed with the election.

Signed: Adeyemo Adeyefa, Director of Operations Osun Democrats for Democracy

BREAKING NEWS: COURT AFFIRMS VACANCY IN OSUN LOCAL COUNCILS, ORDERS OSSIEC TO PROCEED WITH ELECTION

● Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC, Others Ordered to Provide Adequate Security

OSOGBO - 21/02/2025 - Osunpdp.com

The Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa, has ordered the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, (OSSIEC), to conduct elections into the vacant positions of local government chairmen and councillors in all the 30 local government areas and the area office in Osun State.

This order was made on Friday, 21st of February, 2025, sequel to a suit brought before the court by the Peoples Democratic Party, one of the political parties participating in the election. The order came at a time the OSSIEC has concluded arrangements for the local government election, slated for Saturday 22nd February 2025.

The court found as a fact, that the election conducted by the 1st Defendant on 15th October, 2022, having been invalidated, nullified and voided, and the purported elected officials produced by the purported election having been sacked by the Federal High Court in FHC/CS/OS/103/2022; ACTION PEOPLES PARTY (APP) VS. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) & Ors, delivered on the 30th November, 2022 and as confirmed by the decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/226M/2024; ALLIED PEOPLE MOVEMENT (APM) & Ors VS. ACTION PEOLES PARTY (APP) & ORS delivered on the 13th January, 2025, vacancy actually exists in the political administration of local councils in the State, thereby, consequently upholding the prayers of the PDP in the suit.

Consequently, the Court granted the prayers of the claimant, seeking an order of the court “directing, mandating and compelling the defendants to fill the vacancies across the 30 local government areas of Osun State through a democratic process by proceeding to conduct the local government elections already scheduled by the defendants for 22nd of February, 2025.”

The court further directed and compelled all the security agencies, comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante group etc in the state to provide adequate security, during and after the election.

Signed: Oladele Bamiji Hezekiah Media Director, Osun State PDP 21/02/2025

BREAKING NEWS Osun Gov't, Right Groups Reject AGF Fagbemi's Statement, Says LG Election Holds Saturday

BREAKING NEWS

Osun State Government has condemned and rejected a statement credited to the Attorney General of Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, describing it as a biased and politically motivated statement to favour his political party.

Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Legal Matters, Nurudeen Kareem in a statement noted that though the AGF had spoken on the PDP suit, it is important for him to also speak on the relevance of the APP v. APC case, particularly given the Federal High Court's decision, which was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.

"We extend our gratitude to the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his valuable insights regarding the judgment in the PDP versus APC case concerning the 2022 Osun local government election.

"While we respect the AGF’s stance on the PDP's suit, we believe it is essential to highlight the ongoing relevance of the APP v. APC case, particularly given the Federal High Court's decision in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025.

"It is our firm belief that the judgment rendered by the Federal High Court in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 on November 30, 2022, remains extant, subsisting and binding until overturned by a higher court with appropriate jurisdiction. This principle is well established in legal precedents, including the Supreme Court decision in the case of WADA v. BELLO (2016) 17 NWLR PT 1542 433, which affirms that judgments must be adhered to by all courts whether below or above the Court that made the order in the hierarchy of courts.

"Given the significance of this judgment for the integrity of our electoral processes, we respectfully urge the AGF to provide clarity on this matter. The citizens of Osun and the broader Nigerian populace eagerly await his informed opinion, which we believe will contribute to a deeper understanding of the legal landscape surrounding these elections", the statement noted.

Meanwhile, a civil society group, Osun Democrats for Democracy also scolded the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi who is also former Governor Oyetola's counsel for assuming the role of a court on the Osun Local Government crisis, affirming that the AGF is not a court of law and cannot stop election nor interprete court rulings.

The group in a statement by its Legal Adviser, Adewale Fowora advised the Osun state Government to go ahead with the election on Saturday adding that the AGF statement is a political action which has no foundation in law.

“We were shocked that a supposed Chief Law Officer of the Federation has decided to speak on matters on which he is an interested party as a lawyer to Mr Gboyega Oyetola and from which he should have recused himself. He is not only a biased assessor but he has no power to stop an election nor clarify a court judgement.

“Only a court of law can stop an election, not an Attorney General. Secondly, only a court can interpret its own rulings when there are differences of opinions about a court's judgments. Thirdly, the court system has its procedure for enforcing its own judgment and not through self help which the Attorney General openly supported.

“When there are disputes about the meaning of a court judgement, parties are expected to approach the court for interpretation. There AGF has no constitutional mandate to assume the powers and functions of the courts.

“Much more worrisome is the biased refusal to mention the APP judgement which sacked the APC council aspirants. The APP judgement was not the subject of appeal at Akure and so the appeal ruling at Akure has nothing to do with the subsisting APP judgement.

“We are also worried at how the AGF muddled up his narration. Who made information available to his office? Why can't he approach the originating courts for verified judgements? Why is a whole Attorney General openly supporting self help apologists who took the law into their own hands.

“We advise the Osun state government to go ahead with the election on Saturday. The AGF Statement is a political action which has no foundation in law. AGF is not the court and he cannot exercise the powers of the court”, the statement reads.

FAGBEMI, EX-OYETOLA LAWYER, IS NOT A COURT OF LAW AND CANNOT STOP LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION-GROUP

PRESS STATEMENT

20/02/2025

A civil society group, Osun Democrats for Democracy has scolded the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi for assuming the role of a court on the osun local government crisis, affirming that “the AGF is not a court of law and cannot stop election nor interprete court rulings.

“We were shocked that a supposed Chief Law Officer of the Federation has decided to speak on matters on which he is an interested party as a lawyer to Mr Gboyega Oyetola and from which he should have recused himself. He is not only a biased assessor but he has no power to stop an election nor clarify a court judgement.

“Only a court of law can stop an election, not an Attorney General. Secondly, only a court can interpret its own rulings when there are differences of opinions about a court's judgments. Thirdly, the court system has its procedure for enforcing its own judgment and not through self help which the Attorney General openly supported.

“When there are disputes about the meaning of a court judgement, parties are expected to approach the court for interpretation. There AGF has no constitutional mandate to assume the powers and.functions of the courts.

“Much more worrisome is the biased refusal to mention the APP judgement which sacked the APC council aspirants. The APP judgement was not the subject of appeal at Akure and so the appeal ruling at Akure has nothing to do with the subsisting APP judgement.

“We are also worried at how the AGF muddled up his narration. Who made information available to his office? Why can't he approach the originating courts for verified judgements? Why is a whole Attorney General openly supporting self help apologists who took the law into their own hands.

“We advise the Osun state government to go ahead with the election on Saturday. The AGF Statement is a political action which has no foundation in law. AGF is not the court and he cannot exercise the powers of the court”, the group responded.

Signed: Adewale Fowora, Legal Adviser

PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM AFFIRMS SOLIDARITY WITH GOV. ADEMOLA ADELEKE OVER OSUN STATE LGA LEADERSHIP CRISIS

PRESS STATEMENT

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDPGF) notes with deep concern the recent political violence in Osun State, which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property. The concern of the PDPGF stems from the fact that the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Ademola Adeleke had warned about the imminent breakdown of law and order and appealed to the responsible authorities to act to forestall this.

2. The PDPGF condemns in its entirety the resort to self-help by political players whose conduct ought to have been guided by the provisions of extant laws in a democratic society. The Forum further notes with deep worry the resort to violence as a means of settling political and legal disputes and warns all those fanning the embers of discord to desist forthwith.

3. The PDPGF commends the Governor of Osun State for the timely warning in the form of statements he issued before these political actors resorted to violence. His action is a mark of exemplary leadership.

4. Thus, the PDDGF appeals to His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, the Director General of DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the heads of other law enforcement agencies to move quickly and direct all law enforcement agencies to without further delay, contain the situation in Osun State, restore law and order and guarantee the preservation of lives and property before it spirals out of control.

5. The PDPGF also notes that political leadership should be about patriotic sacrifice and service to the people and not about bloodbath and violent criminal conducts and thus, charges all the stakeholders in Osun State to abide by the law. In this regard, the PDPGF further avers that with regard to the protection of lives and property, there are no partisan divides or ideological divisions. Every political leader should be serving the people and working towards their safety, protection, and welfare.

6. Finally, the PDPGF is desirous of seeing a full and total return of normalcy in Osun State, the restoration of law and order, and the quick identification and decisive trial of all those charged with violent disruption of the peace in Osun State.

His Excellency Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON GOVERNOR OF BAUCHI STATE AND CHAIRMAN PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM (PDPGF) Abuja.

Being Text Of World Press Conference By The Chairman, Osun State Chapter Of The Peoples Democratic Party, Hon Sunday Bisi, On The Security Situation In Osun State, As Precipitated By The Inspector General Of Police, Kayode Egbetokun

Protocols

Gentlemen of the press,

I welcome you to this briefing by our noble party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State.

As we are all aware, Osun State has has been thrown into the cloudy side of the news in recent days, no thanks to the surreptitious activities of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to destabilise the state with orchestrated violence obviously hatched in active conivance of his office and the opposition All Progressives Congress, banking on a non-existent court order as being brandished by the defeated APC in the state.

Mr Egbetokun's deliberate deployment of Special Forces under him to escort some miscreants into the local government councils in the state was nothing but a blatant coup and obviously one out of the many mapped out plans to assassinate the Governor of our dear State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, whose instruction to restore peace and order as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated by Mr Egbetokun.

We understand that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been interfacing with Egbetokun, with the sole aim of ensuring peace after the fatal fracas on Monday, occassioned by forceful attempts by the sacked chairmen and councillors purportedly elected on the platform of opposition APC before the advent of PDP administration in the state.

The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from being an enabler of orchestrated attempts on the life of our Governor. This plans we want to emphasize, have being on the cards of the APC in Osun State, since the good people of Osun State voted them out of office in 2022.

The desperation to get rid of Mr Governor and take over the State through whatever means possible has been rife and clear enough since Apc was shut out of government in Osun.

These comments are made here today for record purposes and the world must hold the Inspector General of Police accountable in the event of any ugly eventualities in the Osun.

One wonders how and why the IGP sidetracked the Governor of Osun State before taking a stand on the copies of the judgement at his disposal on the disputes over local government administration in the state.

The stark disobedience to the laid dwom protocol and rules by the the IGP Egbetokun, especially as it concerned security situation in the state was not only suspecious but apparently dangerous.

The motive of security reinforcement if required and as discussed with Egbetokun by His Excellency, the Governor, has not only been betrayed by Mr Egbetokun, but has also set dangerous routes for trouble makers to carry out their dastardly act even when the state has just lost almost 10 of our sons and daughters to violent confrontations in less than 48hours ago.

We are not unaware that the desperation of Mr Egbetokun and his APC cohorts is ultimately to prevent the local government election from holding in Osun State on Saturday, 22nd of February 2025. We are aware that Mr Egbetokun is ready to bend all the rules, aid and abet killings of Osun people, especially members of the ruling PDP as we witnessed on Monday, but the IGP should be told in clear terms that he will fail.

Osun State is not a state to be intimidated by anyone, even if the present experience was part of the basis for which Egbetokun's expired tenure of office was elongated.

It is on this note that we commend the electoral umpire in Osun state, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for towing the path of law and legality in its preparations for the upcoming local governments election in Osun state. We understand that the APC failure to fault the process as it abides by all extant laws in the land motivated the despicable lawlessness it is currently perpetrating in Osun state just to sabotage the election.

We want to urge the general public, particularly voters in Osun state, not to succumb to the tactics of the APC and their allies in security outfits as the election billed for Saturday February 22, 2025 will hold without failing. By the effect of the Federal High Court judgement of November 30, 2022 in suit no FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which was affirmed by the Appeal Court with the dismissal of the APC appeal challenging the verdict, there clearly exists vacancy in the 30 local governments in Osun as recognised by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and in line with the Supreme Court judgement of July 11, 2024, and not the non-existent 69 councils in which the APC held the YES or NO election on October 15, 2022, which was invalidated by the law court.

Once again, I thank you gentlemen of the press for your time, and I implore you to be on standby as we may extend further invitations to you to brief you on situation of things.

Hon Sunday Bisi Osun State PDP Chairman 19/02/2025

LEAKED AUDIO: OSUN APC MEMBERS BERATE OYETOLA FOR MISLEADING THEM ON COURT JUDGEMENT

BREAKING NEWS

Some members of the opposition APC in Osun state have condemned former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for misleading them and lying to the members on the Appeal Court judgement.

The unhappy APC members lamented the loss of lives and properties witnessed in the state, putting the blame on the former Governor and describing him as a selfish and failed leader who doesn't care about his followers.

According to a leaked voice note in one of the APC platforms, many of the members lambasted Mr Oyetola over his failure to protect his members.

They were particularly miffed that Oyetola and the party elders did not say the truth and that they now know that the Akure judgement did not in any way reinstate the sacked council chairmen.

Part of the conversation reads, "My people, we have gotten to a stage where we need to have a re-think about our political future and this man we called our leader. A leader who only thinks about himself is not supposed to be called a leader. Alhaji Oyetola is too selfish and doesn't mean well for us.

"The problem we are having today is caused by him. If he had yielded to the advice to conduct local government elections, then we wouldn't be running around today. The election would have even been a saving grace for him to know where the problem lies and make amends before the gubernatorial election.

"He refused to conduct the election, but after he was rejected at the poll, he rushed to conduct the election. Many of us spent all our savings for the election. He was then a governor. He didn't even come to assist us; he was busy with what he would take home. The annoying part of it is that he knows the election will be Yes or No, which will not stand, yet he left us to be spending our money. The rest is history. Unfortunately, the AG as at the time the election was conducted who is a lawyer was not with us yesterday to make professional input

"When the PDP said they wanted to conduct this election last year, I was one of those who said our leaders should ask Alhaji Oyetola if we will take part or not so that our people won't waste money again. I could remember I had this discussion with Moruf, and he reasoned along with me.

"Here we are again, our candidates have spent money campaigning and on souvenirs, this man just came and said we will not be part of the election. He doesn't even care to understand how much people have spent and where they get the money from. Look at Tobi in Ilesa West. Just imagine how much that boy would have spent, and this wicked leader just came and said we will not be part of the election.

"So, all the noise of we have security, we will use Federal power are all lies. I was expecting that we use this election to test waters and pass a message to the world that we are ready, but the man we called a leader said no. He didn't even brainstorm or discuss with other leaders, it is whatever he said because he is the minister and cousin to the president. I don't think I can continue to waste my time behind this kind of leader.

"Rauf Aregbesola might have his own thoughts, but he is a leader who carries the followers along. Rauf that we all know would have envisaged what is ahead and prepare us with plan A, B, C, and D. But, this man is not ready to spend money and won't make any plan.

"Except if we are deceiving ourselves, we can't go back to the council. Rivers' case is worse. They didn't return to council how much more we got sacked by the court.

"What wonder will upturn the APP judgement against us? Our leader can not hire a SAN for us. He left everything on Galadima's lap when the sitting government was hiring SAN.

"Anyway, at this point I want to challenge every one of us to have a re-think. Ti a ba sora man yii kan ma lo wa bi eran ni oooo."

Other members who spoke noted that it would be difficult for their party, APC to return to power in Osun state taking into cognizance the level of love and support the PDP administration and governor Adeleke receive from the people of the state.

OSUN LG CRISIS: NO LEGAL, CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS FOR FORCEFUL TAKEOVER

By Festus Ogun, Esq

Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, delivered on February 10 2025, there appears to be a deliberate attempt by desperate political elements in Osun State to cause a constitutional crisis and breakdown of law and order in the state. I have taken my time to read through all the judgments and the legal framework culminating to the uproar and I am convinced that setting the record straight on the true position of law is more imperative than ever.

The brief facts are that sometime in 2022, the Peoples Democratic Party (“PDP”) filed a lawsuit against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (“OSIEC”) and others (including the All Progressives Congress APC, joined as interested party) at the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, essentially challenging the conduct of the proposed (yet to be conducted) Local Government Council elections over non-compliance with mandatory provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. In a judgment delivered on November 25 2022, the Court granted all the reliefs sought by PDP and made a consequential order nullifying the Local Government elections conducted by OSIEC on October 15 2022 and directed all Local Government executives so elected to vacate office.

Dissatisfied by the judgment, the APC and others filed an amended Notice of Appeal before the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure essentially alleging that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to have entertained the matter and that the lower court erred gravely in law in its judgment, particularly in making a consequential order nullifying the already conducted election (a prayer not sought for by PDP). In a landmark decision delivered on February 10 2025, the Court of Appeal agreed with APC and upturned the erroneous judgment of the Federal High Court specifically on the basis that there is no valid originating process filed by the PDP to have conferred jurisdiction on the FHC. Consequently, the Court of Appeal struck out the Suit at the FHC for its “incompetence” and allowed the appeal filed by the APC.

Following the Court of Appeal decision, a former Governor of Osun State and chieftain of the APC, Adegboyega Oyetola, under whose watch the October 15 2022 local government election was conducted, urged security agencies in Osun State to take action and ensure that local government officials elected on October 15 2022 resume their duty post as soon as possible. In a meeting with the earlier sacked chairmen and councilors, the ex-Governor assured them that they would return to their offices. This development has caused tension and agitation in the state, considering that another local government council election is billed to be conducted on February 22 2025.

To be clear, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, alone, does not howsoever justify the immediate resumption of the ousted local government executives. To make a contrary argument would amount to deliberately wanting to cause mayhem and crisis in the State. Why do I make this bold and categorical submission?

The simple answer lies in the fact that in a separate Suit filed by Action Peoples Party (APP) against Osun State Independent Electoral Commission and others (including APC) challenging the conduct of the local government election, the Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo on November 30 2022 granted all the reliefs sought by APP and specifically nullified the election conducted on October 15 2022 and sacked all persons occupying offices pursuant to the October 15 2022 election. This means that there were two judgments nullifying the Osun Local Government polls conducted on October 15 2022.

Expectedly, the APC filed an appeal against this APP judgment but failed to prosecute it. Curiously, the same Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (whose conduct of the October 15 2022 election was nullified) filed a motion on notice to dismiss the appeal filed by the APC for their failure to file and transmit records for over 23 months after their Notice of Appeal was filed. Now, on January 13 2025, the Court of Appeal rightly dismissed the appeal. The simple implication, of which, is that the judgment of the Federal High Court in the case filed by APP which nullified the election of October 15 2022 is valid and subsisting. It remains unchallenged and by virtue of the DISMISSAL of the Appeal filed by the APC, Mr Gboyega Oyetola and ousted executives in APC are bound to obey the valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court which they failed to diligently challenge at the court of Appeal.

The point we labour to make is that the Court of Appeal judgment in the PDP case does not in any way confer any right on the sacked local government officials to return to office. The Court of Appeal did not, in fact, determine the merit of the Appeal; neither did the intermediate court make any consequential order reinstating the sacked officials. It simply determined the issue of jurisdiction and held that the Federal High Court lacked it. One wonders why those beating the drums of war are shying away from the validity and somewhat finality (as of today) of the APP judgment. By failure to successfully challenge the APP judgment at the Federal High Court, APC’s successful outing in the appeal filed against the PDP judgment remains, to my mind, a pyrrhic victory, which confers no immediate benefit on them.

Without doubt, the judgment in the APP’s case is unchallenged and remains valid. It is a painful narrative that we have to remind political actors in Osun State that a valid and subsisting judgment of a court which is not challenged or which was unsuccessfully challenged remains to be obeyed. The question crying profusely for answer is this: why did the APC or any of the sacked executives not follow through with the appeal filed at the Court of Appeal to the point that it was dismissed?

I sincerely believe that as a country governed by laws, all parties concerned must ensure that the APP judgment must not be merely obeyed, it must be seen to have been obeyed. Anything done outside that will amount to arbitrariness taken too far. The security agencies must, therefore, restrict the temptation to follow the instructions of politicians that are hell-bent on causing a constitutional crisis in Osun State.

Considering that there is no legal basis for forceful takeover of power by the ousted local government executives, it is my respectful counsel that the APC and their members whose elections were nullified either find a way to quickly resuscitate the “dismissed” appeal (which, in my professional view is permissible and possible) and diligently prosecute their challenge against the Federal High Court judgment in the APP’s case or they brace up to participate in the Local Government Council election billed for next weekend.

Festus Ogun is a constitutional lawyer and managing partner at FOLEGAL, Lagos. festusogunlaw@gmail.com

Governor Adeleke to Osun People: Stay Away from Local Government Secretariats

NEWS RELEASE

●Condole Victims of APC Illegal Take over Bid

OSOGBO - 18/02/2025 - Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed Osun residents including politicians across political divides to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.

In a reaction to the current illegal APC takeover bid of local governments in Osun state, the Governor affirmed that since the local government workers are on strike, only security agencies should be allowed to man the secretariats.

“I therefore direct all law abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.

“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed”, the Governor lamented.

He assured residents of their safety and protection of lives and properties, affirming that he has directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats.

Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor.

APC Thugs, Security Operatives Kill Four PDP Members

● APC LG Takeover Threats Failed

Thugs supported by security operatives have shot and killed four members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the opposition bid to take over Osun local governments secretariats failed.

At Isokan local government, three PDP members were shot dead by APC thugs in their bid to take over the local government secretariats.

“The thugs protected by security operatives shot at us sporadically. They killed two of our people “, a PDP chieftain narrated.

At Boripe local government, PDP members who were holding peaceful meetings were attacked by MOPOL and thugs working with Marine Minister, Gboyega Oyetola.

“Two PDP members were killed and several wounded. This happened at Iragbiji”, Adelowo Adekunle narrated.

At Boluwaduro local government, Asiri Eniba, an APC thugs led the assaults on PDP members, shooting sporadically across major towns in the area.

At Ayedaade local government, APC thugs shot a member of the PDP to death with several wounded.

At Ilesa East, APC thugs swooped on the local government Secretariat, matcheting PDP members on sight. The attack was however repelled.

Reports from across Osun state however showed that the APC threats to take over Osun local governments had failed.

The undemocratic threats of the depleted opposition party All Progressive Congress (APC), Osun State Chapter, to illegally take over the local government premises today, Monday 17th February, 2025, across the state has been heavily resisted by the good people of Osun State.

Following the controversy that ensued from two different pronouncement of the Appeal court in Akure; one upturning the judgement of the Federal High Court that sacked the Yes/No APC local government officials and the other dismissing APC appeal, also sacking the Yes/No APC local government officials, the Osun APC, led by the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue economy, has vowed to forcefully takeover the councils notwithstanding no order of reinstatement from any of the Appeal court judgement.

Governor Adeleke had in his world press conference of Sunday 16th February 2025 appealed to President Tinubu to rein in on the Minister and his attempt to influence the security forces in the state to perpetrate the illegal and forceful takeover. The NLC, with a view to safeguarding her members, also directed LG workers under NULGE to withdraw their service from 12:00 am until further notice.

Earlier today, there were reports of the sacked APC Chairmen and councilors forcing their way in some local governments. In Ifelodun, Boripe and Ife North LGs precisely, they forcefully gained entrance of the local governments and were seen roaming the premises and making political chants. This report spurred citizens across the state into active vigilance as they immediately troop out to secure the premises of their local councils against illegal invasion.

Reports from Odo Otin, Iwo, Ila, Oriade, Ilesa West, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ede, Boluwaduro, Egbedore and Ife local governments etc confirmed that the people have taken over the premises of their respective local councils and the sacked APC Yes/No chairmen are nowhere to be found.

The earlier invasion of Ifelodun, Ilesa East and Isokan local governments was also repelled by the people and normalcy has since returned. However, there are reports of gun shot by members of the APC in Ayedaade and Ife North local governments as the sacked Yes/No Chairmen tried to force their way through the gate of the council.

NANS Osun Axis Urges Members to Prioritize Safety Amid Looming Crises

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS JOINT CAMPUS COUNCIL OSUN AXIS

16/02/2025

*NANS osun axis urges members to prioritize safety amid looming crises*

We have meticulously scrutinized the intricate political landscape and atmosphere of our beloved State, noting how political actors from both parties are fervently pushing narratives. However, as stalwart stakeholders in the State and as the apex students' body, we cannot remain passive and allow the serene existence of our State to be egregiously jeopardized. Ultimately, we cannot remain idle and watch as the interests of our members, their security, and welfare are flagrantly compromised.

Sequel to our release dated 13 of this month on this matter, we reiterate our undiluted stance in solidarity with the Osun people, the OSSIEC, and urge the good people of Osun to liberate themselves from the shackles of captivity imposed by APC's duplicitous propaganda. This propaganda falsely claims that the appeal judgment reinstated the sacked local government chairmen and councillors, despite the two competent courts' explicit rulings to the contrary. In this accord, we wholeheartedly support the conduct of local government elections slated for February 22, 2025.

We, however, in light of the looming crises and the ominous threat of security breaches by APC, advise all our members currently working as IT, Siwes, and practicum students in Osun local governments to steer clear of Secretariats and abstain from work until they are assured that peace has been restored to the local governments.

We seize this opportunity to caution the political party planning to unleash mayhem in our State to desist from their nefarious plans. The masses of Osun will employ all legitimate means to reject the illegality they are concocting. We further reaffirm that our paramount priority and interest lie with our students' welfare, and we will spare no effort to safeguard their interests

In solidarity and special regards, Com.Afolabi Faruq O. PKA: COSTA Chairman 08139727819

Com.Joseph Oluwagbohunmi O. PKA: HEIR_JOSHEEY Secretary General 08102332969

Reporting: Sen.Com.Olawale AbdulHamiid O. PKA:SEN.DINO Public Relations Officer (PRO) 09066296571

NANS Osun Axis Urges Members to Prioritize Safety Amid Looming Crises

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS JOINT CAMPUS COUNCIL OSUN AXIS

16/02/2025

We have meticulously scrutinized the intricate political landscape and atmosphere of our beloved State, noting how political actors from both parties are fervently pushing narratives. However, as stalwart stakeholders in the State and as the apex students' body, we cannot remain passive and allow the serene existence of our State to be egregiously jeopardized. Ultimately, we cannot remain idle and watch as the interests of our members, their security, and welfare are flagrantly compromised.

Sequel to our release dated 13 of this month on this matter, we reiterate our undiluted stance in solidarity with the Osun people, the OSSIEC, and urge the good people of Osun to liberate themselves from the shackles of captivity imposed by APC's duplicitous propaganda. This propaganda falsely claims that the appeal judgment reinstated the sacked local government chairmen and councillors, despite the two competent courts' explicit rulings to the contrary. In this accord, we wholeheartedly support the conduct of local government elections slated for February 22, 2025.

We, however, in light of the looming crises and the ominous threat of security breaches by APC, advise all our members currently working as IT, Siwes, and practicum students in Osun local governments to steer clear of Secretariats and abstain from work until they are assured that peace has been restored to the local governments.

We seize this opportunity to caution the political party planning to unleash mayhem in our State to desist from their nefarious plans. The masses of Osun will employ all legitimate means to reject the illegality they are concocting. We further reaffirm that our paramount priority and interest lie with our students' welfare, and we will spare no effort to safeguard their interests In solidarity and special regards, Com.Afolabi Faruq O. PKA: COSTA Chairman 08139727819 Com.Joseph Oluwagbohunmi O. PKA: HEIR_JOSHEEY Secretary General 08102332969 Reporting: Sen.Com.Olawale AbdulHamiid O. PKA:SEN.DINO Public Relations Officer (PRO) 09066296571

Rev. Bunmi Jenyo celebrates childhood friend, ACP Olubunmi Atanda Otitoola at birthday

The Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Osun State, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo has celebrated his childhood friend and namesake, ACP Olubunmi Atanda Otitoola on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday.

According to the Commissioner, ACP Otitoola is a special gift of GOD to humanity, whose stints since birth cannot be swept under the carpet.

He described him as a kind-hearted individual who is genuinely committed to contributing his quota towards the welfare and progress of others.

"Today, I celebrate a true friend, a brother and a responsible gentleman officer, whose virtues as GOD's creature cannot be treated with a hand of levity. He is indeed a special gift of GOD to humanity", the Commissioner said.

"May GOD Almighty continue to give you the needed strength, sound health and ceaseless happiness to do more for yourself, family and humanity in general, AMEN.", he said.

Signed: Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun State. 16th February, 2025.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY HE, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE.

  Gentlemen of the press

I called this press conference to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun state. I invite you all to expose a fascist anti-democratic agenda designed to enforce a non-existing court judgment on our local governments. This evil plot is being spearheaded by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola in active collaboration with the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the Osun state Director of DSS and the State Commandant of the Civil Defense Corps.  

Before I continue this address, let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process. I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution irrespective of who is involved. It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed.  

I, however, regret to inform Mr. President and the public that Mr Gboyega Oyetola has concluded an arrangement to cause mayhem in Osun state starting from Monday. He is issuing illegal directives to security operatives to enforce illegality simply because he is the nephew of Mr. President. I chose to alert the nation before my people are killed or maimed by a minister  dropping the name of Mr. President in connivance with the Osun state security operatives obeying unlawful orders.  

The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to return to office council chairmen sacked  by a subsisting court Judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order.  

Let me make it clear that the said Council Chairmen were sacked before I was sworn in as governor of Osun State, contrary to the lies being peddled, that the Chairmen and councilors were sacked by my Executive Order.  

For emphasis, l want to state that I had nothing to do with the sacking of the chairmen and councilors produced by the Osun 2022 local government polls.The Chairmen and Councilors were sacked by two different judgments of the Federal High Court Osogbo.

  The script Mr Oyetola is playing is about the most reprehensible abuse of power in this fourth republic capable of untold and unforeseen consequences on the polity.  

The general public is aware that there were two different Federal High Court judgments on the local government election of 2022. The first judgment was on the suit filed by the People Democratic Party (PDP) which sacked the product of the 2022 polls. The second judgment was on the suit filed by the Action People Party (APP), which also sacked the Chairmen and Councillors produced by the said 2022 Osun Local Government polls.  

The APC appeal against the judgment obtained by the PDP was partially successful, and the said judgment was struck out  based on the timing of filing, having been filed before the notice of election was published.

It needs to be emphasized that the judgment contains no consequential orders.The APC in its amended notice of Appeal, asked the Court of Appeal to reinstate the sacked chairmen and councilors, but the Court of Appeal in its wisdom said it has become an academic exercise. The request for the reinstatement of the Chairmen and Councilors was not granted.  

However, the Appeal by the APC against the APP judgment did not succeed at the Court of Appeal, which makes the judgment still subsisting and alive.  

The Court of Appeal dismissed the APC appeal against the judgment obtained by the APP. The only legal recourse open to the APC is to appeal the APP judgment and the subsequent rulings of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.  

The Certified True Copies of both judgements had earlier been forwarded to the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of DSS and the state Commandant of Civil Defense by the Osun state Attorney General for their information and records.

  The Certified True Copies of  both judgments are in the public domain. The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the PDP case was not ambiguous whatsoever. It simply struck out the PDP suit and did not in any of its paragraphs order the reinstatement of the sacked council chairmen and Councilors.  

It is very clear that no consequential order was made because the APP case is still subsisting. As I stated earlier, the Court of Appeal said that the request for the reinstatement of the Chairmen and Councilors has become an academic exercise.  

We call on legal luminaries and the Nigerian Bar Association  to fact check our claims by reading and interpreting the judgments. Even a layman can comprehend the meaning except those with an agenda to destroy the peace and progress of Osun state.  

In a democratic society governed by the rule of  law, we all must submit to the law. If we are dissatisfied with the outcome of a court process, we can appeal to the next court to end at the Supreme Court. If you are not sure of the meaning and intent of a court judgment, the system expects you to apply for interpretation again through the court system.  

It is illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-democratic to take the law into your own hands. For a serving minister, the person of Mr Gboyega Oyetola to lead the charge to violate the constitution and foment violence over a judicial process is not only shameful but is sadism and treason taken too far.  

We have it on good authority that  Mr Gboyega Oyetola  has instructed the Osun state Commissioner of Police,  the state Director of the DSS and the state Commandant of civil defence corps to mobilise security operatives from within Osun to effect the non existent judgement by forcefully taking over the local governments on Monday.  

Mr Oyetola and the police boss have been holding a series of meetings on how to effect the illegal operations.  

We affirm that Mr Gboyega Oyetola has no constitutional authority to issue directives to the security agencies.  

The fact that Mr Oyetola is nephew of Mr. President does not confer any such authority on him.  

We see this as a gross betrayal  of trust reposed in the Osun state security officers by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.  

I want to state that the current nefarious activities of Mr Oyetola and bosses of Osun security agencies constitute grave incitement. These need to stop because we are  neither  interested in resorting to self-help nor in support of violence to resolve political matters.  As much as we are law-abiding people, we are fierce protectors of our rights, at night and by the day.

  I want to place on notice the Nigerian Public, and our friends in the diplomatic community and the lovers of democracy and rule of law that our people will not accept any attempt to impose illegality and anarchy on us.  

We will not allow any takeover of the local government except through a judicial pronouncement or a democratic process.

  We vehemently reject any ploy to deploy a non-existing court order to achieve local political power.  

  I therefore appeal to  Mr President who is a renown democrat to insist on the rule of law by instructing the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of DSS, the Commandant General of the Civil Defense Corps not to obey an illegal  order from his nephew, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The Osun State security chiefs should also be called to order.  

I call on Mr President, to instruct the National Security Adviser, and the Attorney General of the Federation, to personally verify the fact that the Court of Appeal judgement did not reinstate the sacked local government chairmen and councilors and the fact that, there is a subsisting judgement of Court that sacked the Chairmen and Councillors  produced by the 2022 local government polls.

  The Nigerian public should hold Mr Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun state security chiefs responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state tomorrow, Monday, and beyond.  

It is unfortunate that the Osun state security chiefs are taking instructions from Mr Gboyega Oyetola just because he is the nephew of Mr. President.  

As much as we will do our best to maintain peace, we call on men and women of goodwill to intervene before it is too late.

  I thank you for listening