Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directly disobeyed the advice of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, that the Osun state local government election must be postponed, reiterating once more that the election will take place as planned this Saturday. The governor’s disobedience comes in a direct appeal from Fagbemi that the election must be suspended on grounds of some issues of law.

Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, released a statement on Friday affirming unequivocally that the rule of law must follow the democratic process. Rasheed added that no individual, not even the AGF, is capable of pre-empting the actions of the judiciary, adding once again that the people of Osun are more determined than ever to stand for democracy.

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“My advice to everyone involved, both local and national, is to uphold democratic norms,” Rasheed said. “For myself and on behalf of the people, I believe in rule of law and not illegal self-help. The election will happen and the winner will bring about accelerated development in the local council. I appeal to our people to remain peaceful. Osun is a very peaceful state.”

The governor’s provocation came in the wake of the AGF’s threat on Thursday, based on a ruling by the Akure Court of Appeal last week. The appeal court overturned an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court, which had invalidated local government elections during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. The decision by the appeal court restored the ousted council chairmen, Fagbemi explained, who remain in power until October 2025.

Fagbemi’s statement emphasized that holding a local government election under these circumstances would be unconstitutional, as the restored chairmen’s terms are still valid under the court’s ruling. He argued that such a poll would not only be legally invalid but would also represent a breach of the Constitution that Adeleke had sworn to uphold. In addition, the AGF cautioned against any potential violence that could originate from the situation, urging the governor to make sure there was peace and tranquility in the state.

Through all these predicaments, Adeleke remained resolute, assuring that the election would proceed as scheduled. The governor reiterated his commitment to peaceful and credible elections, something he made evident by his personal participation in the exercise on Saturday morning.

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Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his ballot on Saturday morning at 7:56 a.m. at Unit 9, Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, located in the Ede North Local Government Area. Surrounded by his supporters and a handful of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, the governor proved he was quite sure of the electoral process.

During his trip to the polling station, Adeleke commended the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for efforts made in ensuring a peaceful election. The governor was satisfied with the process, mentioning the peaceful conduct so far and appealing to the voters to participate fully in the election.

“I want to urge everyone to come out and vote. The election will be peaceful,” Adeleke said in a quick statement after casting his vote. He urged people to vote without fear, reiterating his call to political actors and voters to eschew violence at all levels of the election.

The statement by the governor was an indication of his wish that the local government elections would see all the PDP candidates emerge victorious, depicting his belief that the elections would result in positive local development in Osun State.

Despite the warning by the AGF, Adeleke has stated that the election would proceed as scheduled, demonstrating his confidence in the state’s democratic process. With the local government elections already ongoing, the governor’s message has remained that of peace, oneness, and obedience to the law, calling for the respect of the rule of law despite varying opinions and legal interpretations.

The Osun State government’s legal showdown with the AGF has merely served to bring to the forefront the long-standing frictions underlying the state’s local government polls. While the AGF insists the polls are a contravention of constitutional provision, Adeleke and his administration stand firm in their beliefs that the state can organize the polls as is in consonance with its democratic processes.

The political stakes also complicate the issue. The election will decide leadership positions in the state’s local councils, with Adeleke’s PDP hoping to continue leadership of most of these positions. The outcome of the election is likely to have significant implications for the balance of political power in Osun, especially given the heightened political competition between the PDP and the opposition.

Everyone’s attention, at least for the moment, is focused on the occurrences of the current election as citizens of Osun head to the polls, unaffected by the legal battle between the state and federal governments. Governor Adeleke urged people to be calm and peaceful while exercising their rights, but the broader political and legal implications of the election are a debate for the next few days.

As events unfold, the reaction of national and local actors will play a key role in deciding whether the election runs smoothly or more legal battles are fought. The next few days will show us the real extent to which this conflict of legal and political interests affects the local government election and Osun’s wider democratic future.