Concerns about the future have been raised by locals as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapters in Osun State continue to dispute local government management.
Official reports from the Osun State Police Command indicate that six people were killed on Monday, February 17, 2025, when council officials affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) attempted to return to their jobs in local government secretariats throughout the state.
According to Barrister Hashim Abioye, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, or OSSIEC, has scheduled new local government elections for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
According to a statement released by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, the Nigeria Police urged the state government not to hold the local government poll.
The police referenced security reports and legal ramifications, citing the ruling of the Akure-based Appeal Court, which continued to be a point of disagreement among the state government, Osun APC, PDP, and OSSIEC.
The APC’s state chapter formally declared its intention to boycott the elections before the Nigeria Police issued their warning.
OSSIEC was given permission to hold the local government polls by an Osun State High Court in Ilesa one day prior to the election.
Following Saturday’s voting, OSSIEC declared that the Osun PDP had won all 332 wards in the state as well as all 30 local government chairmanships. Then, on Sunday, February 23, 2025, it issued Certificates of Return to the chairmen who had won and their deputies.
The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, swore in the newly elected chairmen and their deputy members the same day.
In order to avoid any confrontations, Governor Adeleke further cautioned the recently sworn-in officials to avoid the local government secretariats.
Osun villagers’ responses, however, were not all the same.
Some expressed their satisfaction with the way the polls were conducted, while others voiced worries about alleged malfeasance and logistical issues.
Osogbo trader Kemi Adeyemi mentioned how happy he was with the procedure.
I cast my ballot without any problems. She claimed that despite the lack of security, the authorities were well-organized.
Conversely, Ilesa-based educator Adebayo Oladimeji expressed annoyance at the delays.
“We had to wait for hours for our polling station to receive voting materials. Many folks fled after growing weary. He said, “This kind of inefficiency erodes the credibility of the election.”
Governor Adeleke’s influence may have swung the election in favor of the PDP, according to political analysts who have examined the effect of the state government’s intervention in the race.
One can always be suspicious when the ruling party controls the election body. Building trust in the election process requires more effort from the state administration, according to Sola Akintunde, a political science student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Some residents have advocated for growth and unity in spite of the issues.
It is important that individuals in power concentrate on development at this time. A civil servant in Ede named Funke Oladipo stated, “We need leaders who will address infrastructure, education, and unemployment.”
Read Also: Nigeria Faces Looming Fuel Crisis as IPMAN Warns FG with 7-Day Deadline
OSSIEC Chairman Abioye reportedly voiced concern during the election that Nigeria Police officers had closed up the commission’s Osogbo office.
In a statement released later on Saturday, Abioye also claimed that the intimidation and detention of OSSIEC officials by police officers contributed to the failure of polling materials to reach specific specified polling stations, which in turn prevented OSSIEC from conducting elections in some polling units.
He did, however, guarantee that polls will start in the impacted polling places and that other logistical solutions had been reached.
