By Our Reporter
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, basking in the euphoria of a successful conduct of local government elections on Saturday, February 22, 2025, has urged the newly elected council chairmen to uphold their mandate and deliver on good governance. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Sunday, Adeleke implored the chairmen to serve as agents of change, development, and deliverers of the dividends of democracy within their local government areas.
Adeleke directed the elected chairmen to stay away from the local government secretariats for the time being, pending a peaceful resolution through the judiciary. He cited an Osun State High Court ruling that confirmed the vacancies in both chairmen and councilor positions before the election. “We will rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats,” he said.
The governor reminded them of the arduous journey that led to the elections, noting that the state electoral body had issued a notice of election more than a year ago and complied with all legal procedures. He also expressed satisfaction that, despite the legal controversies surrounding the election, the state is on the right side of the law.
Meanwhile, opposition from the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues, with the party declaring the election ‘illegal’ and calling for the withholding of federal allocations to the newly elected officials. In response, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who was present at the inauguration, expressed solidarity with Adeleke. He cautioned the APC against turning Osun into a ‘wild west,’ urging them to respect the rule of law and avoid actions that could lead to crisis. “We don’t want the wild wild west again,” Makinde said, encouraging disgruntled individuals to seek legal redress instead of resorting to violence.