Political tension escalates as Osun APC reinstated chairmen seek court extension of tenure, challenging PDP-installed council executives and state actions.
Osun State is witnessing a growing political crisis as disputes over local government leadership continue to unfold.
The tension centers on the Osun APC reinstated chairmen, officials originally elected in October 2022, removed from office, and later reinstated by the Court of Appeal in February 2025.
Despite their legal restoration, a parallel set of executives from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were sworn in following the local government elections held on February 22, 2025.
Both parties now claim legitimate control over the councils, creating a political deadlock that has stalled governance and disrupted public services.
This ongoing standoff has serious implications for the daily lives of residents.
Workers under the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have been on strike for months, demanding clarity on legitimate leadership.
At the same time, federal allocations meant for local government operations remain withheld, further exacerbating the financial and operational strain on councils.
The administrative limbo has affected everything from waste management to community health initiatives, leaving residents frustrated.
In response to the impasse, the reinstated APC executives have turned to the judiciary to assert their rights.
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Osogbo (FHC/OS/CS/147/2025), counsel Barrister Muhideen Adeoye, representing Saheed Onibonokuta and seven other local government chairmen, requested that the court extend their tenure until February 19, 2028.
The defendants in the suit include the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), and the Osun State House of Assembly.
The claimants argue that their tenure, as guaranteed by the Constitution and state laws, should start from the date they were inaugurated in February 2025, rather than October 2022, when they were initially elected but prevented from assuming office.
The Osun APC reinstated chairmen contend that holding fresh elections in February 2025, while their term was still valid, was unlawful.
They argue that such elections were intended to deprive them of their constitutional right to a full three-year tenure.
Among the reliefs sought, the claimants requested a court declaration that OSIEC cannot issue election notices, conduct polls, or swear in new council members while their tenure subsists.
They maintain that all steps taken by the defendants since February 22, 2025, and especially between August 2025 and the present, aimed at forcibly installing alternative council executives, are illegal, unconstitutional, and null.
The suit also challenges the Attorney General of the Federation’s interpretation suggesting that their tenure ends in October 2025.
The claimants assert that any attempt to limit their term is ultra vires, unconstitutional, and invalid.
To ensure compliance, they requested a court order compelling the AGF and the Inspector General of Police to provide adequate security to safeguard their offices until February 19, 2028.
The legal challenge highlights the critical role of the judiciary in resolving political disputes.
By seeking court intervention, the Osun APC reinstated chairmen aim to protect their constitutional rights and prevent any state actors from undermining their authority.
They also requested that the court restrain Governor Adeleke, the Osun State Attorney General, the State House of Assembly, and OSIEC from taking steps to remove them forcibly from office.
If granted, such an injunction would preserve the status quo until the end of their legally mandated tenure.
The prolonged political tension has disrupted governance in Osun State.
With council executives in dispute, local decision-making has stalled, delaying infrastructure projects, public service delivery, and community development initiatives.
Residents have reported issues with waste management, public health services, and other essential programs, reflecting the tangible effects of the ongoing crisis.
The workers’ strike, combined with withheld federal allocations, has compounded the administrative paralysis.
This situation underscores the broader consequences of unresolved political disputes at the grassroots level, demonstrating how legal and political conflicts can directly affect citizens’ daily lives.
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Observers note that the crisis in Osun reflects a broader challenge in Nigeria’s local governance system, where judicial rulings, political rivalry, and electoral disputes intersect.
The resolution of this case could set an important precedent for how tenure disputes are addressed in other states.
The outcome will also determine which party controls several key local government councils in Osun, influencing not only administrative decisions but also political dynamics ahead of future elections.
As such, both residents and political observers are closely monitoring the Federal High Court proceedings.
The political tension surrounding local governance in Osun has escalated into a high-stakes legal battle.
The Osun APC reinstated chairmen are asserting their right to serve a full three-year term, seeking judicial protection against what they consider unlawful attempts to curtail their tenure.
With public services disrupted, workers on strike, and federal allocations withheld, the dispute is more than a party conflict—it is a governance crisis affecting ordinary citizens.