The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, have engaged in a fierce war of words over the recent local government elections in Osun State. The controversial poll, which saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) win all 30 local government areas (LGAs) and 332 wards, has deepened political tensions in the state.
APC Rejects Election, Calls for Federal Intervention
Reacting to the outcome, the APC dismissed the election as illegal and urged the Federal Government to withhold local government allocations to Osun State. The party accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of disregarding a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment and staging what it described as a “sham election” on February 22, 2025.
In a statement by APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, the party argued that the Court of Appeal had already reinstated previously sacked local government officials, whose tenure remains valid until October 2025.
“Governor Adeleke’s actions amount to a flagrant violation of the Constitution, which guarantees democratically elected local government councils,” the statement read.
APC further condemned the election as a waste of public resources and an incitement to political unrest. The party advised Adeleke to challenge the Court of Appeal’s ruling at the Supreme Court rather than conducting a “reckless and unconstitutional” election.
Makinde Defends Election, Warns APC Against Violence
In a sharp response, Governor Seyi Makinde, who attended the swearing-in of the new local government chairmen in Osogbo, cautioned APC against destabilizing Osun State.
Flanked by the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Makinde accused APC of trying to plunge Osun into chaos.
“We don’t want a repeat of the Wild West era. If APC has any court judgment in its favor, there is a legal process for enforcement. Resorting to self-help or federal might is unacceptable,” Makinde stated.
He emphasized that the PDP-led government in Osun was committed to delivering the dividends of democracy peacefully and warned against any attempts to undermine the will of the people.
Rising Political Tensions
With both sides standing their ground, the dispute over Osun’s local government leadership is set to escalate. APC insists that the elections were unconstitutional, while PDP maintains that due process was followed. As the legal and political battle continues, all eyes are now on how the Federal Government will respond to APC’s demand for financial sanctions against Osun’s local councils.
