Adeleke Swears in New Local Government Chiefs
Despite warnings from the police and the federal government, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has sworn in the newly elected council chairmen in the state, who in turn inaugurated their councillors at their respective local governments.
But the APC, has urged its reinstated chairmen and councillors to resume for duty, and debunked fake news that the leadership of the APC in Osun, had directed their elected council chairmen and councillors not to resume.
In the same breath, the national leadership of APC, has described the swearing-in of the ‘newly elected’ local government officials by Adeleke as provocative and a threat to peace and safety of the state.
This was as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has said the conduct of last Saturday’s local government elections in Osun State was proof that in a democracy, power resided with the people.
At the same time, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has warned the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, not to turn the state into another “wild wild west” of the Second Republic, and called for rule of law and counseling against resorting to self-help.
Meanwhile, a public policy expert, Mallam Sulayman Nafiu, has decried the just concluded council polls, describing it as a “shameless mockery of democracy population census and a blatant affront to the rule of law.”
Adeleke, who told the cheering chairmen and their supporters that, “We are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution,” reeled off how the journey started.
“We are all aware of the journey to where we are. The state is today rounding off a process that started a year or so ago. The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago.
“I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors.
“We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election. It is however a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution.
“I congratulate all newly elected council chairmen and councillors. You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments.
“I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change, community developer and deliverer of dividends of democracy.
“To the good people of Osun State, I use this occasion to express my gratitude for your steadfast support for our administration. Osun people demonstrated courage and passion to exercise their voting rights and they did so by massively supporting our party despite all the constraints. We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword.
“Our thanks also goes to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission for discharging its mandate professionally and with all sense of responsibilities. We also commend security agencies and state officials who made the election a reality.
“I should not end this address without acknowledging the contributions of Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am most grateful to Mr President for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos.
“I assure Mr President of our commitment to the rule of law and the constitution for conflict resolution and governance process,” the governor noted.
He, however, directed the elected chairman and councillors to stay away from the local government secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.
“An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the Chairman and Councillors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025.
“We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats,” the governor assured them.
Delivering a vote of thanks, the newly elected chairman of Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Sarafadeen Awotunde, expressed gratitude to the electorate, the PDP and the state government for making the electoral process a reality.
