By Ayomide Otitoju
Representatives of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola traded accusations on Monday over the legality of local government elections held in 2022 and the validity of subsequent court rulings.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, accused Oyetola—now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy—of deliberately orchestrating an illegal election before leaving office.
“After losing the July 16, 2022, governorship election, he conducted a local government election on October 15 in violation of the Electoral Act, which mandates a 360-day notice,” Alimi said, alleging the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) defied opposition warnings and proceeded with a 60-day notice.
Alimi stated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the poll in court, but the case was dismissed on a technicality, not merit.
In response, Adebayo Adeleke, a former Commissioner under Oyetola, defended the election’s legitimacy, saying, “The council chairmen and councillors were duly sworn in on November 25, 2022. The PDP boycotting the polls does not invalidate the process.”
He added that although a court initially sacked the officials, the APC appealed the ruling and won a favourable judgment in February 2025. He argued that a subsequent June ruling did not nullify the appeal but only declined to relist the PDP’s appeal.
While Alimi maintains that the June 13 Court of Appeal judgment upheld the nullification of the APC’s local council officials, Adeleke insisted the February ruling remains in force, allowing the APC chairmen to continue in office.
As tensions continue, Alimi urged the Attorney General of the Federation to act on the latest judgment to end what he called a “local government lockdown” in Osun.
