Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged security agencies in Osun State to ensure that local government officials elected in the October 15, 2022, election resume their duties as soon as possible. This comes after the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, upheld the appeal filed by the chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election as presumptive.
Oyetola, who met with the elected chairmen and councillors in Osogbo, assured them that they would return to their offices, relying solely on the rule of law. He warned against acts of lawlessness and expressed his commitment to supporting all legitimate efforts to reinstate the elected officials.
However, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, countered that there is no judgment reinstating APC chairmen to office. Alimi warned Oyetola against inciting unrest in the state and urged him to consult his lawyers for a proper briefing.
It’s worth noting that the Osun State Government has also released a statement clarifying that the Court of Appeal’s judgment did not reinstate the sacked local government officials. Instead, the court’s ruling dismissed the PDP’s suit against the election as presumptive.
The local government election scheduled for February 22 is set to proceed as planned, according to Alimi.