Osun LG poll: Gov Adeleke votes, rejects police advice

Osun LG poll: Gov Adeleke votes, rejects police advice

 

Osun State Local Government election commenced on Saturday morning, with Governor Ademola Adeleke casting his vote.

Governor Adeleke voted as early as 8am at Unit 9, Ward 2 in the Ede North Local Government Area.

After casting his vote, the governor described the exercise as peaceful and urged the people of the state to come out and cast their votes and go back home peacefully.

The election was held against the advice by the police and the Attorney General of the Federation over security and legal tussle.

The All Progressive Congress and the Labour Party had earlier announced their intentions to boycott the council poll.

Governor Adele said, “The process has been very peaceful, I made a broadcast to my good people of Osun State that this election should be peaceful. There should be no violence because Osun State is a very peaceful state.

“They should come out peacefully, vote and go back peacefully too. There should be no problem. We should not give them any chance to say there is violence here, there is violence there. I don’t want that because we are peacefully people in Osun State.”

Newstrends reports that controversy has dogged the build up to the election including conflicting court ruling.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, advised Governor Adeleke on Thursday to put the local government election on hold.

The AGF hinged his call on the ruling of the controversial Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on February 10, 2025, which reinstated the earlier sacked local government chairmen and councillors.

Also, the Nigeria Police on Friday advised the state government to suspend the election, citing security threats.

The Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.

In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police said reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, were mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.

However, the Osun State government insisted on going on with the election, saying that it did not want to disobey an Osun State High Court order which directed that the elections be held.