A profound political crisis is currently unfolding in Osun State, Nigeria, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lay conflicting claims to the control of local government councils. This intense dispute stems from recent, and often contradictory, judicial decisions that have created a volatile atmosphere marked by apprehension among residents and heightened security deployment.

The genesis of the crisis dates back to October 15, 2022, when APC local government chairmen and councillors were elected during the final period of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola's administration, shortly after he lost the governorship election to Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP. The validity of these elections was subsequently challenged, leading to a Federal High Court in Osogbo nullifying the results. Following this nullification, Governor Adeleke ordered the removal of the APC chairmen and councillors, prompting the APC officials to appeal the decision.

On February 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal in Akure delivered a ruling that appeared to favor the APC, reinstating the previously sacked APC council executives. However, the Osun State Government did not recognize this reinstatement. Attempts by the APC officials to reclaim their respective local government secretariats following this ruling tragically led to violence and fatalities, including the death of Remi Abass, the chairman of Irewole Local Government Area.

Despite the ongoing legal battles and violence, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission proceeded with scheduled local government elections in February 2025. The APC chose not to participate, resulting in the PDP winning all 30 local government areas. Governor Adeleke then swore in the newly elected PDP chairmen and councillors, but cautioned them against resuming duties at the secretariats until the court definitively ruled on the matter. Consequently, APC officials have remained in charge of the local government secretariats, often under police protection, while PDP officials have not taken their seats.

The latest development came on a recent Friday (after February 2025) when the Appeal Court issued another crucial ruling, further escalating the tensions. The PDP, supported by the Osun State Government, interpreted this ruling as an affirmation of the sack of the APC officials. According to the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the court’s decision to dismiss an APC application to relist an earlier appeal (struck out on January 13, 2025, for lack of diligent prosecution) effectively upheld the Federal High Court's initial judgment that nullified the 2022 election. Alimi stated that the court made it clear that the APC failed to meet the conditions for revisiting the appeal, thus declaring the Oyetola-era local government election unconstitutional, null, and void, and confirming the removal of all individuals occupying offices by virtue of that election.

Conversely, the APC vehemently insisted that the Friday judgment reaffirmed their reinstatement. Mogaji Kola Olabisi, APC's Director of Media and Information, argued that the Court of Appeal's latest ruling emphasized the sanctity of the February 10, 2025, judgment which reinstated them. He maintained that nothing in the recent decision affected the February 10 ruling, asserting its binding validity unless overturned by the Supreme Court. Abiodun Idowu, the APC's Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), affirmed that APC officials remain the lawful occupants, citing an enrollment order confirming their legitimacy and police protection.

Sarafadeen Awotunde, the PDP's ALGON chairman, affirmed the PDP's stance, urging the APC to accept the court's verdict and prioritize peace and development over disrupting the state's governance. He emphasized that the Court of Appeal knows the next steps to ensure compliance and that the government continues its work.

Security forces have been deployed across the state's council areas to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Abiodun Ojelabi, spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, confirmed the deployment, stating their role is strictly to provide security and ensure public safety, not to intervene in political matters. However, the situation remains tense, with residents fearing a potential violent face-off.

Legal experts have weighed in on the complex judicial interpretations. Barrister Dele Ajibade, a senior lawyer, explained that by implication of the Friday judgment, the APC chairmen and councillors lost the case. He clarified that there were two initial High Court cases nullifying the APC elections (one brought by PDP, another by APP). While APC appealed the PDP case and won, they failed to diligently pursue the appeal in the APP case, which was dismissed. The Appeal Court's recent refusal to relist the APP case means the High Court judgment in that specific case, which sacked the APC officials, still subsists and is legally binding. Political affairs analyst Waheed Saka urged both parties to take the matter to the Supreme Court for a final decision, emphasizing the need to avoid further crisis and violence like past incidents.

In light of the escalating tensions, APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter and deploy adequate security personnel to the state. He warned that the differing interpretations of the court ruling could lead to significant crisis if not promptly addressed, recalling the loss of lives in previous clashes.