PDP sweeps polls as Adeleke snubs AGF, IGP, conducts Osun LG polls

…expresses confidence in Tinubu as true democrat

By Tunde Opalana

Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Saturday defiled advice by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun not to go ahead with the conduct of local government election in the state.

Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) conducted elections for the positions of chairmen and councillors in the 30 local government areas across the state.

Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Friday had ordered OSIEC to conduct the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.

The court ruled that the election conducted by the first defendant on 15th October, 2022, had been invalidated, nullified and voided, and the purported elected officials produced by the purported election had been sacked by the Federal High Court.

The court therefore, directed and compelled all the security agencies, comprising the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante group among others in the state to provide adequate security during and after the election.

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But report across the state indicated that the Police boycotted the election following a declaration that the Nigeria Police received credible intelligence indicating a high likelihood of violence and significant security threats as intelligent reports indicated that various groups, including political parties and their supporters were mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace, and undermine the democratic order.

Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, in a statement to that effect had said that due to this imminent threat to security, the Police strongly advised the Osun State Government to suspend the planned elections forthwith in the interest of public safety and national stability.

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party announced their unwillingness to participate in the election on Friday.

Reports confirmed that interested voters majorly members of the Peoples Democratic Party trooped to various polling units unmolested while voting exercise was seamless.

As as late afternoon when collation of results commenced, there were jubilations across local government by PDP candidates and their supporters.

A PDP member of the House if Representatives, Hin. Taofeek Abumbola Ajinisoro representing Ife Federal Constituency who spoke on telephone conversation said the election process was transparent, adding that officials of OSSIEC were not biased.

He said “we thank God the election held. You know that before today, there were threats on our governor, Ademola Adeleke that the election should not be conducted. The Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police came with different interpretation of the law giving resins why the election should not hold.

“They tried to subdue our governor not to conduct the election but th governor who respect the rule of law abide by the ruling blof the court which have a go ahead for today’s election.”

Contrary to report that only PDP members participated in the election, the federal lawmaker said “in.my ward, we saw members of other parties that came to vote without being molested. We saw people voting for candidates if Accord, Labour Party, even APC.

“That shows that our governor is a respecter of the rule of law. He cherished administration at the grassroots level and he was so desired to have elected representatives of the people in all the local government councils in the state”.

Adeleke who voted Saturday at his Unit 9, Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, in Ede North Local Government Area of the state around 7:55am described the process as smooth and democratic.

The governor commended the tenacity of OSSIEC for ensuring the election went on as scheduled despite conflicting reports that its headquarters was sealed and election materials impounded by the police.

Speaking with journalist after exercising his civic right, Adeleke dismissed threat of voiding the exercise by agents of state.

He expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu as a true democrat who will not allow any of his appointees or agent of government make mockery of democracy.

The governor added his government went ahead with the conduct of the election in accordance with constitutional provisions and in.ibedience to the pronouncement of the court which gave a go ahead for the election to hold.

According to a statement obtained from the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the President Tinubu as “a true democrat with huge democratic credentials”.

He dismissed as falsehood news article in which he was portrayed as disparaging President Tinubu on issues surrounding the council polls.

“In my first state broadcast on this crisis, I said this about the President: ‘Let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of the rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process.

“I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution, irrespective of who is involved. It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed.

“In my second broadcast, I said this about Mr President: ‘We have confidence in the democratic credentials of President Tinubu, who we know will always insist on the rule of law.

“We urge the public and stakeholders to ignore the fake news as Governor Adeleke did not attack President Tinubu in any way before and during ongoing local government development”.

It is expected that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission will announce results of the election early Sunday.