APC Tackles Adeleke, Says Court Ruling On ‘Reinstated Council Chairmen’ Binding
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has stated that the ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on June 13, 2025, remains binding and valid, asserting that it reinforces an earlier judgment which reinstated the sacked local government chairmen and councillors elected under its platform.
The APC, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, maintained that the appellate court’s decision does not invalidate the judgment of February 10, 2025, which ordered the reinstatement of elected council officials removed by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
The party accused the Osun State government of deliberately misinterpreting the latest court ruling to continue denying the reinstated officials access to their offices.
Olabisi said the June 13 ruling only struck out an application to relist a previously dismissed appeal and did not set aside the February judgment, which he described as final and binding until overturned by the Supreme Court.
He called on security agencies to ensure that the reinstated chairmen and councillors are allowed to resume their duties without hindrance.
An APC chieftain and former ALGON chairman in the state, Abiodun Idowu, also described the ruling as a legal victory that reconfirms the illegality of the Adeleke-led government’s dissolution of the local councils.
He warned against what he called ongoing attempts by the state government to use misinterpretation and force to resist lawful reinstatement.
However, the Osun State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, insisted that the June 13 ruling does not amount to an order for reinstatement.
Alimi argued that the Federal High Court ruling which nullified the October 15, 2022 local government election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) still stands, as the Court of Appeal did not deliver a new judgment to overturn it.
The Commissioner accused the APC of deliberately misleading the public and inciting unrest in local government areas.
He said Governor Adeleke acted lawfully and that the position of the state government remains unchanged until the matter is conclusively determined by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Oluwole Oke, urged Governor Adeleke to obey the ruling of the Court of Appeal and reinstate the sacked chairmen.
He said the continued defiance of court decisions undermines democracy and the rule of law.
The lawmaker appealed to the Osun State Government to respect the judiciary and allow due process to prevail, warning that the prolonged standoff could create unnecessary political tension and disrupt governance at the grassroots.
As the controversy deepens, legal experts have advised both sides to seek further clarification from the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, to prevent potential breakdown of law and order.
